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AS 


HOUSEHOLD 

Hints  and  Recipes, 


BY 


HENRY  T.WILLIAMS, 

AND 

"DAISY  EYEBRIQHT." 


PART   I. 


Williams'  Household  Series. 

VOL.  Y. 


NEW   YOEK: 

HE^'RY  T.   WILLIAMS,  Publisher. 

1877. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1877,  by 

HENRY  T.  WILLIAMS, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  'Washington. 


CLABK  W.  BRYAN  AND  COMPANY, 

ELECTEOTYI'ERS,  PRINTERS  AND  BINDERS, 

SPRINGFIELD,  MASS. 


TMC  GFTTY  CEN ; 


EDITORS'  PREFACE, 


Common  Sense  is  the  richest  endowment  for  every  good  housekeeper. 
In  these  pages  are  found  some  uncommonly  good  hints,  which  if  observed 
will  make  good  housekeeping  a  thing  of  pleasure,  and  sense  and  senti- 
ment will  more  easily  combine  to  make  every  home  more  delightful.  In 
this  volume  there  has  been  special  effort  to  avoid  the  usual  stereotyped 
"Cook  Book  Recipes^^  Vhich  have  been  repeated  over  and  over  again  till 
all  are  familiar  with  them.  Instead,  something  new,  fresh,  practical,  sen- 
sible, has  been  furnished,  which  make  a  Ladies'  Book  of  rare  interest, 
and  inestimable  worth  in  every  home.  Every  department  of  the  house 
except  the  kitchen,  will  find  here  rare  receipts  and  hints  which  will  lead 
you  to  avoid  a  multitude  of  cares  and  annoyances,  prevent  many  a  se- 
rious accident,  remedy  many  troubles,  and  save  a  waste  of  means.  They 
are  the  result  of  personal  experience  of  the  Editors,  and  as  such  are 
intended  to  be  strictly  reliable  and  trustworthy. 


Hoiv  to  Keep  Meat  in  Summer, 

If  you  cover  some  putrid  flesh  with  animal  charcoal,  such  as  is  obtained  by 
burning  bones,  you  will  utterly  destroy  all  the  bad  odor,  for  it  oxidizes  the  bad 
gases. 

Now  to  what  use  can  this  be  applied  ?  You  know  how  often  it  happens, 
particularly  in  the  Summer,  that  the  meat  sent  home  on  Saturday  night  for 
Sunday's  dinner  will  become  tainted,  if  the  weather  is  hot  and  damp  ;  some- 
times it  is  so  spoiled  you  cannot  eat  it.  Yet  it  is  quite  sure  that  the  process  of 
decomposition  that  has  gone  on  during  the  night  has  not  been  sufficient  to  ren- 
der the  meat  unliealthy.  There  has  no  great  putrefaction  taken  place.  If  you 
cover  the  meat  with  animal  charcoal,  and  leave  it  all  night,  there  will  be  no 
odor  from  it.  And  if  you  do  not  like  to  blacken  it,  you  can  easily  have  a  small 
box  made,  and  line  it  with  the  charcoal,  powdered.  Or,  you  can  wrap  the  meat 
while  it  is  sweet  in  a  towel  and  put  it  in  a  box  and  fill  the  spaces  up  with  ani- 
mal charcoal,  covering  it  also  over  the  top  with  it ;  and  place  it  in  the  ice-house 
or  refrigerator.     All  musty  smells  can  also  be  removed  by  its  use. 


A  Cheap  Filter  for  Water. 

Take  a  large  flower-pot,  of  porous  substance,  and  place  a  piece  of  sponge  in  it, 
large  enough  to  cover  the  bottom.  Upon  this  put  a  few  smooth  white  pebbles 
to  keep  the  sponge  in  place,  and  fill  up  the  pot,  to  within  two  or  three  inches  of 


6  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

the  brim,  with  a  mixture  of  one  part  powdered  charcoal,  to  two  parts  fine 
sharp  sand.  Cover  the  top  of  the  ]iot  with  a  piece  of  clean  white  flannel,  tied 
tightly  round  the  rim  with  a  bit  of  twine,  but  not  so  closfily  that  it  will  not  sink 
down  under  pressure,  in  the  center.  Set  the  flower-pot  over  a  pail,  and  pour  the 
water  into  the  flannel,  letting  it  filter  through  the  mixture,  and  by  the  time  it 
has  passed  through  the  hole  in  the  bottom  of  the  flower-pot,  it  will  be  perfectly 
clear,  and  freed  from  all  impurities. 

To  Render  Cloth  Fire-jiroof. 

All  cloth,  even  that  for  ladies'  dresses  of  the  most  inflammable  and  lightest 
textures,  can  be  made  almost  if  not  wholly  incombustible,  by  being  dipped  into 
a  weak  solution  of  the  chloride  of  zinc.  Buy  ten  cents'  worth  of  it,  and  put  it 
into  a  quart  or  three  pints  of  water,  and  dip  in  some  pieces  of  muslin  and 
woolen ;  when  thoroughly  dried,  hold  them  over  the  fire,  and  see  how  slowly 
they  burn,  if  at  all. 

To  Prepare  Fumigating  Poivder. 

Take  equal  parts  of  cascarilla  bark,  in  coarse  powder,  camomile  flowers,  and 
anise-seed,  powdered  and  well  mixed  together.  Two  ounces  of  each  will  be 
sufficient  to  use  for  several  times.  Take  up  some  hot  coals  upon  a  shovel,  and 
sprinkle  the  powder  over  them  very  slowly;  and  as  the  smoke  arises,  carry  the 
shovel  into  all  parts  of  the  room,  and  fumigate  the  air  thoroughly.  It  destroys 
all  disagreeable  odors,  and  is  said  to  prevent  contagion  in  infectious  diseases, 
such  as  diphtheria,  scarlet  fever,  and  the  like. 

A  Disirifecfing  Lamp. 

The  following  simple  apparatus  is  most  excellent  for  purifying  rooms  where 
any  unpleasant  effluvia  prevails.  Any  person  can  fit  up  the  lamp,  and  it  is  an 
agreeal)le  method  of  overcoming  bad  odors  in  a  sick  room.  Take  a  small  glass 
lamp,  such  as  is  used  for  burning  camphene  or  spirits,  put  in  a  clean  wick,  and 
fill  it  up  with  chloric  ether  and  light  the  wick.  In  a  few  minutes  the  object 
will  be  accomplished. 

In  damp,  dark  cellars  whore  vogotalilcs  have  decayed,  or  where  drains  nllow 
the  escape  of  mephitic  gas,  in  dissecting  rooms,  and  in  any  place  where  it  is 
desirable  to  sweeten  the  atmosphere,  one  of  these  lamps  will  prove  most  effica- 
cious.    One  tube  filled  with  a  wick  is  (juite  sufficient. 

To  Purify  Foul  Apartments, 

To  one  table-spoonful  of  common  salt  placed  in  a  tumbler,  add  a  large  pinch 
of  manganese,  powdered  fine.  Turn  over  it  a  quarter  of  a  wine-glass  of  strong 
vitriolic  acid.     Do  this  at  an  interval  of  a  few  minutes,  four  or  five  times  ;  then 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  7 

place  the  tumbler  on  the  floor  of  the  room  that  requires  fumigating,  and  leave 
it  for  a  day  or  more,  closing  all  the  doors  and  -svindows  tightly.  'J'he  vapors 
formed  by  it  will  destroy  all  the  foul  odors,  and  sweeten  the  most  filthy  air. 

An  Excellent  Disinfectant. 

Permanganate  of  potassa  in  solution  is  one  of  the  most  efficient  disinfectants 
that  can  be  used  for  removing  all  disagreeable  odors,  either  in  utensils,  or  in 
rooms. 

Twenty-five  grains  can  be  dissolved  in  two  quarts  of  water,  and  a  table- 
spoonful  of  it,  added  to  a  saucer  of  water,  will  remove  any  filthy  odor.  As  the 
water  evaporates  more  can  be  added  to  it.  For  infectious  diseases  it  is  highly 
recommended,  and  should  always  be  used  in  all  cases  of  scarlet  fever,  dir)htheria, 
or  small-pox. 

For  disinfecting  mouldy  barrels  it  is  unequaled.  Two  or  three  table-spoon- 
fuls of  the  solution,  added  to  a  pint  of  water,  will  cleanse  any  cask,  or  barrel,  if 
it  is  thoroughly  washed  in  it  and  rinsed  out  well.    - 

A  3Iethod  of  Sweeteninff  3Insty  Barrels. 

Make  a  strong  ley  of  hard-wood  ashes,  and  pour  it,  boiling  hot,  into  the  bung 
hole ;  then  roll  the  cask  about  so  that  every  portion  of  it  shall  be  well  washed. 
If  the  first  application  does  not  sweeten  it  thoroughly,  repeat  it,  and  then  rinse 
it  out  well  with  clear,  hot  water.  If  wood  ashes  cannot  be  obtained,  fill  the 
cask  with  hot  water,  and  throw  in  small  pieces  of  unslacked  lime — a  quart  at 
least  of  it — shake  it  about  well,  and  when  nearly  cold  turn  it  out,  and  rinse  it 
with  clear  water. 

Or,  mix  half  a  pint  of  sulphuric  acid  in  a  quart  of  warm  water,  turn  it  into 
the  cask,  and  roll  it  about  so  that  it  is  all  wetted.  Let  it  stand  over  night,  and 
the  next  day  add  a  pint  of  powdered  chalk,  and  let  it  effervesce  ;  then  bung  it 
up  for  two  or  three  days,  and  when  it  is  rinsed,  wash  it  out  with  boiling  water. 
The  filthiest  cask  can  be  cleaned  in  this  manner. 

Hoiv  to  Ascertain  the  Trcseuce  of  Carbonic  Acid  Gas  in  the 

Atmos2)here. 

If  the  air  of  a  room  is  foul,  it  can  be  readily  ascertained  by  filling  a  glass 
tumbler  with  lime-water,  and  placing  it  on  a  shelf  in  the  room.  The  rapidity 
with  which  a  pellicle  forms  on  its  surface,  or  the  water  becomes  cloudy,  corres- 
ponds to  the  amount  of  carbonic  acid  present  in  the  atmosphere  that  surrounds 
it.  Another  method  is  to  place  a  little  moist  carbonate  of  lead  on  a  plate  or 
saucer,  on  the  mantle-piece  or  shelf,  and  it  will  turn  black  if  there  is  any  sul- 
phurated hydrogen  in  the  air.  This  is  a  very  delicate  test  for  the  destructive 
gas. 


8  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

To  Destroy  Cockroaches. 

A  very  simple  trap  can  be  prepared  for  these  disagreeable  pests  by  cutting 
four  or  five  strips  of  paste-board,  an  incli  or  more  in  width,  and  placing  them 
in  a  slanting  position  against  the  sides  of  a  quart  bowl  or  a  common  nappy. 
Then  pour  into  the  basin  (taking  care  not  to  touch  its  sides)  some  molasses  and 
water,  or  stale  beer  and  molasses,  and  as  cockroaches  are  very  fond  of  sweets, 
they  will  walk  up  the  ladders  of  paste-board,  and  find  a  watery  death.  Pieces 
of  wood  will  do  as  well.  Several  of  these  traps  can  be  placed  in  the  kitchen 
and  pantry,  night  after  night,  and  soon  their  number  will  be  greatly  lessened. 
Another  way  is  to  place  pieces  of  unslacked  lime  where  the  cockroaches  fre- 
quent, and  they  will  be  driven  away.  But  care  must  be  taken  not  to  let  w-ater 
6x\\)  upon  the   quicklime,  as  it  would  produce  combustion. 

Still  another  way  is  to  take  quantities  of  powdered  borax,  and  scatter  it  all 
about  the  shelves  and  the  water  pipes.  The  cockroaches  do  not  like  it  and  will 
not  run  over  it.  A  solution  of  alum  in  boiling  hot  water  will  destroy  them  at 
once  and  also  kill  their  larv'ce. 

These  insects  always  follow  the  water  pipes  in  houses,  but  any  of  these  sim- 
ple remedies  will  keep  them  from  putting  in  an  appearance. 

To  Mevive  Old  Writing. 

Boil  a  few  gall  nuts  in  white  wine,  or  alcohol ;  then  with  a  sponge  dipped  in 
the  liquid,  wipe  the  lines  of  the  almost  invisible  writing,  very  gently,  and  all 
the  letters  will  appear  distinctly  visible.  This  preparation,  however,  should 
not  be  used  for  documents,  of  which  the  originals  are  the  most  valuable,  as  it 
has  a  tendency  to  injure,  and  eventually  destroy  the  paper;  but  it  is  very  desir- 
able for  manuscripts  that  you  only  desire  to  copy. 

How  to  Become  Tliin, 

The  dietary  that  Banting  observed  to  reduce  his  weight  from  202  pounds  to 
150  was  this :  For  breakfast,  four  ounces  of  beef,  mutton  or  any  kind  of  cold  or 
broiled  meat  and  fish,  excepting  pork,  salmon,  herring  and  eels  ;  a  large  cup  of 
tea  without  milk  or  sugar ;  an  ounce  of  dry  toast  or  a  little  biscuit,  but  no  but- 
ter. For  dinner,  five  or  six  ounces  of  any  kind  of  meat  or  fish — excepting  those 
prohibited ;  any  vegetable  excepting  potatoes,  beets  and  parsnips,  with  one 
ounce  of  dry  toast ;  any  kind  of  poultry  or  game,  and  ripe  or  cooked  fruits  ;  but 
no  pastries,  puddings  or  sweets  are  allowed.  For  tea,  dry  toast,  a  cup  of  tea 
without  milk  or  sugar,  and  two  or  three  ounces  of  fruit.  For  supper,  three  or 
four  ounces  of  meat  or  fish,  with  a  glass  or  two  of  claret  or  madeira.  Food  that 
contains  sugar  and  starch  must  be  avoided,  as  it  creates  flesh  too  rapidly.  Take 
two  or  three  hours'  exercise  daily,  and  retire  and  rise  in  good  season. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  9 

How  to  Prevent  Explosions  of  Gas, 

We  hnar  occasionally  of  severe  accidents  from  the  leakage  of  gas  pipes,  •when 
light  is  brought  into  collision  with  the  gas,  and  every  one  should  know  what  to 
do  to  prevent  the  possiliility  of  the  occurrence.  The  first  thing,  when  an  escape 
is  observed,  is  to  turn  the  gas  off  at  the  meter,  without  taking  a  liglit  to  do  it. 
Then  open  the  windows  in  the  rooms,  at  the  top  as  well  as  at  the  lower  part, 
because  gas  is  light  and  ascends  to  the  ceiling.  Meanwhile,  a  gas-fitter  should 
be  sent  for  at  once. 

With  a  little  attention,  however,  explosions  of  gas  are  barely  possible.  So 
disagreeable  is  its  odor  that  an  escape  is  perceptible  at  once  when  there  is  only 
one-three  thousandth  part  present  in  the  atmosphere,  and  no  explosion  can  take 
place  unless  there  is  one  part  in  fifteen.  Therefore,  it  is  chiefly  in  small  rooms 
and  closets  that  there  is  much  danger  in  cases  of  escape  of  gas.  The  stop-cock 
near  the  meter  should  be  turned  several  times  in  a  year  to  prevent  its  corroding 
and  not  turning  easily,  when  you  desire  to  shut  off  the  supply. 

Hoiv  to  Obtain  Sleep, 

Sleep  is  the  great  panacea  of  earthly  ills,  yet  it  is  a  coy  guest,  and  often  has 
to  be  wooed  long  before  it  is  won.  But  we  would  on  no  account  recommend  to 
our  readers  the  foolish  practice  of  trying  to  obtain  sleep  by  the  use  of  narcotics, 
which  should  never  be  resorted  to  except  by  the  advice  of  physicians.  Many 
are  the  patent  prescriptions  for  sleepless  nights — and  onions — raw  onions,  sliced 
thin,  and  eaten  with  a  bit  of  bread,  are  said  by  many  to  be  a  sure  specific  for  the 
trouble. 

A  famous  divine  tells  us  that  he  could  always  obtain  sleep  by  repeating  very 
slowly,  with  a  long  inspiration  and  expiration  at  each  vowel,  the  letters.  A,  E, 
I,  O.  The  fifth  vowel  was  omitted  because  it  demanded  too  great  an  exertion 
of  the  muscles  of  the  lips.  Sleep  would  soon  follow  the  mechanical  repetition 
of  the  vowels  above  named. 

Others  tell  us  they  can  woo  sleep  by  chaining  the  imagination  to  one  object, 
for  instance  the  watching  a  field  of  corn  waving  in  the  breeze,  and  seeing  the 
sunlight  glance  upon  its  lance-shaped  leaves.  While  others  more  prosaic,  would 
see  a  flock  of  sheep  jumping  one  after  another  through  a  hedge. 

A  Sure  Heniedy  for  Nervous  Slcejylessness, 

Take  one  or  two  sugar-coated  assafoetida  pills  before  retiring. 

To  Make  a  Pot-Potirri,  or  Scent  Jar — No  1, 

Take  one  ounce  of  gum  benjamin,  sweet  orris,  storax,  cloves  and  nutmeg,  all 
bruised  in  a  mortar ;  throw  in  at  the  bottom  of  the  jar,  a  handful  of  salt  and  a 
little  of  the  mixture  of  spices  ;  then  add  layers  of  rose  leaves  and  other  kinds 


lo  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

of  odorous  leaves,  and  upon  every  layer  add  a  handful  of  salt  and  some  spices, 
taking  care  to  cover  every  leaf  with  the  salt  and  spices.  The  best  materials  for 
a  pot-pourri  are  rose  leaves,  sweet  briar,  violets,  lavender,  rosemary,  clovepinks, 
and  in  fact  every  sweet-scented  herb  or  flower  that  you  can  obtain.  Sweet 
geranium  leaves  and  flowers,  and  sweet  verbena  leaves  should  never  be  for- 
gotten. 

Collect  the  flowers  and  leaves  when  in  their  pi'ime,  and  pick  them  clean  from 
the  stalks.  Keep  it  closely  covered  for  three  months,  then  stir  it  up  with  a 
stick,  and  its  fragrance  is  delicious. 

JPot-JPourri,  Ko.  2. 

Take  of  orris  root  and  flag  root,  bruised,  each  four  ounces,  yellow  sandal 
wood,  three  ounces,  sweet  cedar  wood  one  ounce,  half  an  ounce  of  cloves,  one 
ounce  each  of  gum  benzoin,  styrax  and  nutmeg  jiowdered,  mix  all  the  ingredi- 
ents together,  and  add  one  pound  of  fine  bag  salt,  three  ounces  of  rose  leaves, 
half  a  drachm  of  essence  of  lemon,  one  drachm  of  millejleurs,  twenty  drops  oil 
of  lavender,  ten  grains  of  musk. 

This  powder  is  also  excellent  for  perfuming  linen,  furs  and  woolen  goods,  and 
makes  nice  sachet  powder  if  the  salt  and  rose  leaves  are  left  out,  and  ten  drops 
of  otto  of  rose  substituted.     It  will  retain  its  scent  for  years. 

To  Loosen  the  Sfo2)2^ers  of  Smelling  Bottles. 

If  the  stopper  is  firmly  fixed  by  means  of  the  salts  contained  within  the  bot- 
tle, do  not  attempt  to  strike  out  the  stopper,  but  add  as  much  citric  acid  to 
water  as  it  will  take  up,  thus  making  what  chemists  term  a  saturated  solution, 
and  immerse  the  neck  of  the  bottle  in  it.  Or  you  can  pour  some  vinegar  into  a 
tumbler,  and  put  the  neck  and  stopper  into  that.  In  the  former  case  a  citrate 
of  ammonia  will  be  formed,  and  in  the  latter  an  acetate  of  annnonia.  After  the 
bottle  has  remained  in  the  tumbler  for  ten  minutes  or  so,  remove  it  to  a  tum- 
bler of  warm  water,  and  in  a  few  moments  it  will  come  out  readily 

To  Remove  the  Stoppers  of  Glass  Bottles. 

Dip  a  piece  of  woolen  cloth  into  boiling  hot  water,  and  wrap  it  tightly  around 
the  neck  of  the  bottle.  In  a  few  minutes  the  stopper  will  probably  be  loosened, 
as  we  have  never  known  this  method  to  fail. 

To  Clean  Brass  Andirons  and  Fenders. 

Wash  the  brass  witli  a  strong  solution  of  oxalic  acid,  and  when  dry,  rub  it 
until  it  shines  like  gold  with  cloths  moistened  with  Sapolio.  Or,  dampen  a 
cloth  with  kerosene,  dip  it  into  Tripoli,  and  rub  very  thoroughly.  Polish  with 
dry  newspapers. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  ii 

To  Vreserve  Iron  and  Steel  front  liusf. 

The  preservation  of  iron  and  steel  from  rust  is  quite  an  important  item  in 
domestic  economy,  and  tlie  following  method  will  never  fail  to  do  it :  Add  half 
a  pound  of  quicklime  to  a  quart  of  cold  water.  Let  it  stand  until  perfectly 
clear,  and  then  pour  off  the  liquid,  ceasing  the  moment  it  becomes  turbid.  Stir 
into  it  enough  olive  oil,  until  the  mixture  becomes  like  a  thick  cream.  Put  it 
into  a  jar  and  keep  it  for  use.  Rub  the  article  to  be  put  by  with  it  and  then 
wrap  it  up  in  paper.  Knives  and  all  steel  articles  will  not  acquire  the  slightest 
rust  if  treated  in  this  way.  If  they  cannot  be  wrapped  up  in  paper,  add  another 
coating  of  the  mixture.  Iron  pans  and  kettles  covered  with  it  will  not  rust ; 
and  it  is  also  a  sovereign  remedy  for  burns  or  scalds.  Rub  it  over  the  affected 
spot  at  once,  and  blisters  cannot  form. 

To  Clean  Common  Tins. 

Throw  some  wood  ashes  into  a  wash  kettle,  pour  on  water  till  it  is  nearly  full 
and  let  it  boil.  Then  dip  in  the  tins,  and  leave  them  to  boil  about  ten  minutes. 
Take  them  out,  one  at  a  time,  and  scour  while  hot,  with  fine  sand  and  soap. 
After  soap  has  been  made  in  a  big  brass  kettle,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  fill  it  half 
full  of  water,  and  let  it  boil  up  well,  and  throw  in  all  the  tin  utensils ;  then  scour 
them  with  a  strong  piece  of  crash  dipped  in  sand  and  soap,  or  pure  powdered 
whitening,  as  it  will  give  a  better  polish.  Rinse  them  in  a  tub  of  cold  water, 
and  set  in  the  sun  to  drain.  "When  dried,  rub  off  with  a  thick  woolen  cloth, 
and  they  will  look  bright  and  nice.  Pewter  platters  and  dishes  can  be  cleaned 
in  the  same  way. 

When  wood  ashes  are  not  obtainable,  take  a  cake  of  Sapolio,  dampen  a 
piece  of  flannel,  and  rub  on  it  until  you  have  a  good  suds.  Scrub  the  tins  with 
it,  and  they  will  shine  like  a  mirror. 

To  Take  Care  of  Handles  of  Knives. 

Ivory  or  bone  handles  should  be  washed  with  a  soaped  flannel  and  lukewarm 
water,  and  then  wdped  dry.  To  preserve  or  restore  their  whiteness,  soak  them 
in  alum  water  that  has  been  boiled,  and  then  become  cold.  Let  them  lie  in  it 
for  an  hour ;  then  take  them  out,  and  brush  them  well  with  a  soft  tooth-brush, 
and  wrap  a  soft  linen  towel  about  them,  wetting  it  in  cold  water,  and  leaving 
them  to  dry  gradually.  If  dried  too  quickly,  when  taken  out  of  the  solution  of 
alum,  it  will  injure  them;  but  if  properly  managed  this  process  will  make  them 
very  white.  Handles  of  ebony  should  be  cleaned  with  a  soft  cloth,  dipped  in  a 
little  sweet  oil.  Let  them  lie  in  the  oil  for  an  hour,  and  then  wipe  it  all  oft"  with 
a  soft  bit  of  flannel. 


12  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

To  Clean  Plate  Much  Tarnished, 

Take  of  alum,  common  salt,  and  cream  of  tartar,  each  one  ounce ;  pulverize 
the  alum,  and  dissolve  the  whole  in  one  gallon  of  water.  Boil  it  well,  then  put 
in  the  pieces  of  plate,  and  boil  them  for  ten  minutes.  Take  out  and  rub  dry 
with  chamois  leather,  wiping  them  at  first  with  soft  linen.  If  plate  is  put  aside 
it  will  generally  tarnish,  but  if  cleaned  by  this  method,  at  stated  periods,  it  will 
always  look  bright. 

To  Prepare  Cloths  for  Polishing  Silver, 

Take  two  ounces  of  powdered  hartshorn,  and  boil  it  in  a  pint  of  water ;  soak 
small  squai'es  of  linen  cloth  (pieces  of  old  table-cloths  will  do),  in  the  liquid,  and 
hang  them  up  to  dry,  without  wringing,  and  they  will  polish  silver  beautifully. 

To  Clean  Candlesticks,  Snuffers,  etc. 

Silver  plated  and  japanned  candlesticks,  snuffers,  and  snuffer-stands  should 
be  cleaned  by  first  removing  the  drops  of  wax  or  tallow  that  may  have  fallen  on 
them  by  pouring  boiling  hot  water  over  them,  and  then  wiping  them  dry  with 
a  linen  towel,  and  rubbing  them  with  chamois  leather.  But  on  no  account 
place  them  before  the  fire  to  melt  off  the  grease,  as  too  much  lieat  will  injure 
the  face  of  the  plate.  In  placing  candles  in  the  sockets,  fit  them  in  closely, 
either  by  means  of  a  strip  of  paper  tightly  twisted  about  them,  or  by  the  ordi- 
nary candle-springs  ;  they  will  thus  be  prevented  from  jostling,  and  spilling  the 
melted  portion  of  the  wax  or  tallow  upon  the  tables  and  floors. 

To  Restore  Alabaster  Ornanietits, 

Slake  a  mixture  in  the  proportion  of  two  ounces  of  aquafortis,  or  nitric  acid, 
to  a  pint  of  cold  rain  water,  which  should  be  filtered,  as  it  is  necessary  that  the 
water  should  be  perfectly  clear.  Dip  a  small  paint  brush  into  the  liquid,  and 
wash  the  alabaster  for  ten  minutes,  putting  the  brush  into  all  the  crevices,  which 
should  have  been  thoroughly  brushed  and  dusted  before  being  wetted.  Rinse 
thoroughly  with  cold  water,  and  set  in  the  sun  for  two  or  three  hours  to  dry. 
Do  not  wipe  it  off.  The  aquafortis  will  make  the  alabaster  very  white,  and 
being  used  so  weak  it  cannot  injure  it.  Soap  should  never  be  put  on  to  alabas- 
ter, as  it  discolors  it  badly. 

To  Give  Plaster  Figures  the  Appearance  of  Marble, 

Dissolve  one  ounce  of  pure  soda  soap,  grated  fine,  in  four  ounces  of  hot  water ; 
add  one  ounce  of  white  wax  shaved  very  tliin.  Put  the  mixture  into  an  earthen 
dish,  and  when  it  is  all  melted  to  a  liquid,  warm  the  figure  before  the  fire  and 
tie  a  string  around  it  so  you  can  dip  the  whole  of  it  into  the  mixture  at  once. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  13 

When  the  varnish  has  become  well  dried  in,  dip  it  a  second  time  into  the  liquid. 
This  is  usually  sufficient.  Set  the  figure  carefully  away  on  a  closet  shelf  excluded 
from  all  dust  for  a  week.  Then  rub  it  gently  and  carefully  with  some  soft 
cotton  wool,  and  you  will  produce  a  brilliant  gloss  exactly  resembling  polished 
marble. 

To  Varnish  Old  Straw  Hats  and  Baskets,  Blade  or  lied. 

Take  either  red  or  black  sealing-wax ;  to  every  two  ounces  of  the  wax,  pounded 
very  fine,  and  sifted  through  sheer  muslin,  add  one  ounce  of  rectified  spirits 
of  wine.  Put  it  into  a  large  white  glass  phial,  and  shake  it  for  ten  minutes. 
Then  let  it  stand  in  a  warm  place  for  forty-eight  houi'S,  shaking  it  occasionally 
until  all  of  the  wax  is  dissolved.  Put  it  on  to  the  hats  or  baskets  with  a  small 
painter's  brush.  Let  it  dry,  and  repeat  the  application,  and  your  sunburned 
hats,  and  soiled  baskets  will  be  as  good  as  new. 

To  liestore  Faded  Harnesses. 

The  color  of  a  harness  that  has  become  rusty  or  brown  by  wear,  can  be 
restored  to  a  fine  black,  after  the  dirt  has  been  sponged  off,  by  using  the  follow- 
ing mixture  :  Boil  half  a  pound  of  logwood  cliips  in  three  quarts  of  water,  to 
which  add  three  ounces  of  finely  powdered  nutgalls,  and  one  ounce  of  pulverized 
alum.  Simmer  the  whole  together  for  half  an  hour,  bottle  when  a  little  cooled, 
and  apply  with  a  soft  brush  or  cloth. 

An  excellent  blacking  for  harnesses  is  made  by  melting  two  ounces  of  mutton 
suet  with  six  ounces  of  beeswax  ;  then  add  one  ounce  of  powdered  indigo,  five 
heaping  table-spoonfuls  of  fine  sugar,  dissolved  in  half  a  teacup  of  milk,  and  two 
heaping  table-spoonfuls  of  soft  soap.  Stir  all  together  thoroughly ;  simmer  over 
the  fire  until  well  mixed,  and  add  one  gill  of  turpentine  as  you  take  it  from  the 
fire.     Lay  on  with  a  sponge  ;  polish  with  a  cloth  and  brush. 

To  Make  Economical  WJiite  Paint. 

Two  quarts  of  sweet  milk,  eight  ounces  of  fresh  slaked  lime,  eight  ounces  of 
linseed  oil,  two  ounces  of  Burgundy  pitch,  three  pounds  of  Spanish  white. 
Slake  the  lime  in  a  little  water  and  expose  it  to  the  air.  Stir  it  to  a  stiff  paste 
with  one  pint  of  milk.  Dissolve  the  pitch  in  the  linseed  oil ;  and  then  mix  it 
slowly  drop  by  drop  into  the  whitewash,  stirring  carefully  as  you  do  in  mixing 
a  salad.  Then  stir  in  the  rest  of  the  milk,  a  little  at  a  time,  not  the  whole  at 
once,  as  it  will  not  mix  smoothly;  stir  in  the  Spanish  white.  This  quantity 
will  cover  twenty-seven  square  yards  of  surface,  and  prove  a  most  economical 
paint. 

Cheajy  Paint  Imj>erviou8  to  Weather. 

Dissolve  eight  pounds  of  glue  in  boiling  water,  and  witli  this  slake  one  bushel 
of  quicklime  until  it  becomes  of  the  usual  consistency  of  paint.     Lay  on  three 


14  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

coats  of  this  mixture  with  a  painter's  brusli,  taking  care  that  each  coat  is  dry 
before  it  is  succeeded  by  auotlier.  Over  the  third  dust  sand,  or  stone  dust  from 
a  dredger.  By  mixing  ochre  or  Spanisli  brown  witli  the  wash  other  colors  can 
be  obtained.  Mix  common  blue  and  yellow  oclire  and  a  handsome  green  wash 
can  be  made.  Apply  it  hot,  and  you  will  find  it  excellent  for  fences,  palings 
and  outhouses. 

How  to  Manage  Household  Expenses. 

Of  course,  different  people  pursue  different  plans  in  managing  their  house- 
hold expenses,  but  every  one  should  keep  an  account  of  daily  expenditures,  and 
cany  them  out  every  month,  and  know  at  the  end  of  the  year  just  how  they 
stand.  And  it  is  very  essential  that  every  woman  who  keeps  house,  should 
have  a  stated  sum  for  the  -purpose,  weekly  or  monthly,  and  take  into  considera- 
tion the  occasional  expenses  to  which  slie  is  liable — such  as  medical  attendance, 
rent,  coals,  gas  bills,  servants'  wages,  clothes,  and  the  like,  and  reserve  from 
each  week's  expenditures  a  sufficient  proportion  towards  paying  these  bills. 
Such  moneys  can  be  kept  on  interest  in  a  savings  bank  as  they  are  not  needed 
for  monthly  ex'penses,  as  they  are  saved  by  a  little  economy  exerted  here  and 
there.  Going  without  dessert  every  day,  or  without  meat  every  day  for  break- 
fast will  amount  to  quite  a  little  sum  in  six  months  or  a  year ;  and  in  due  time 
enough  might  be  saved  by  these  little  sacrifices  to  the  stomach  to  send  a  daugh- 
ter to  school,  or  even  pay  a  son's  expenses  at  college. 

"  Many  a  little  makes  a  mickle,"  is  an  old  Scotch  proverli  that  is  particularly  to 
be  remembered  and  applied  in  housekeeping.  And  for  want  of  it  plenty  is  often 
consumed  in  prodigality,  and  distress  and  destitution  ensue. 

Home  Economy. 

"We  should  never  feel  ashamed  of  whatever  economy  it  is  right  for  us  to  prac- 
tice, but  take  a  pride  in  its  exercise ;  and  if  at  any  time  we  find  ourselves 
endeavoring  to  conceal  our  thrift,  it  is  time  to  pause  and  examine  our  motives; 
for  we  either  desire  to  appear  richer  than  we  are,  or  else  the  economy  in  ques- 
tion is  needless,  and  hence  arises  the  shame.  It  is  very  possible,  however,  to 
arrange  our  households  so  judiciously  that  we  spread  a  charm  over  a  plain  and, 
perhaps,  even  a  homely  establishment. 

The  accomplished  Lady  ]\Iary  Wortley  Montague,  who  figured  in  the  fashion- 
able as  well  as  in  the  literary  circles  of  lun-  time,  said  :  "  The  most  minute 
details  of  household  economy  become  elegant  and  refined,  when  they  are  enobled 
by  sentiment.  To  furnish  a  room  is  not  then  a  commonplace  affair,  to  be 
shared  with  upholsterers  and  cabinet-makers,  but  it  is  decorating  a  place  where 
I  am  to  meet  a  friend  or  a  lover.  To  order  dinner  is  not  merely  arranging  a 
meal  with  my  cook,  it  is  preparing  refreshment  for  him  whom  I  love.     These 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  15 

necessary  occupations,  viewed  in  this  light  by  a  person  capable  of  strong  attach- 
ment, are  so  many  pleasures,  and  will  afford  her  far  more  delight  than  the  games 
and  show  that  constitute  the  amusements  of  the  world. 

Spring  House-Cleaning,  and  the  Best  Way  to  Arrange  It. 

When  the  balmy  southern  breezes  have  driven  away  the  cold  easterly  winds, 
and  the  sun  has  crossed  the  vernal  line  and  its  bright  rays  enliven  our  winter- 
decked  rooms,  they  will  also  disclose  the  blackening  dust  which  has  settled  upon 
the  walls,  ceilings,  curtains,  etc.,  in  spite  of  all  our  efforts  to  expel  it ;  and  every 
careful  housewife  is  aware  that  the  season  is  close  at  hand,  when  she  must 
re-adorn  and  arrange  her  house  from  the  attic  to  the  cellar,  and  rout  out  the 
foul  fiend — dirt — which  one  of  our  latter-day  philosophers  has  termed  "  mailer  in 
the  wrong  place." 

There  are  few  houses  in  the  United  States  which  do  not  undergo,  at  least 
twice  a  year,  a  thorough  cleaning,  and  although  it  is  by  no  means  an  agreeable 
operation  when  in  pi'ocess,  yet  when  the  work  is  completed,  the  disagreeableness 
of  it  is  wholly  forgotten  in  the  pleasure  we  take  in  knowing  that  the  house  is 
clean,  smells  clean  and  feels  clean ;  and  that  there  is  no  dark  cellar,  or  hidden  cor- 
ner, that  is  not  as  sweet  and  fresh  as  are  the  parlor,  dining-room  and  kitchen. 

But  the  first  aim  in  house-cleaning  should  be  to  perform  it  with  as  little  dis- 
comfort as  possible  to  those  of  the  household,  who  do  not  actively  participate  in 
it ;  and  to  do  this  the  housekeeper  must  manage  matters,  so  that  the  whole 
house  is  not  in  confusion  at  once;  and  not  endeavor  to  accomplish  too  much, 
i.  e.,  not  attempt  to  clean  one  story  at  a  given  time,  but  take  it  easily  and  not 
let  chaos  reign  everywhere.  This  can  easily  be  done  by  commencing  with  the 
cellar  first,  and  then  the  attics,  an'd  next  the  chambers  and  closets,  etc. ;  and 
taking  up  only  as  many  carpets  as  can  be  put  down  in  the  same  day,  and  thus 
have  each  room  put  in  order  before  night,  instead  of  having  several  in  confusion, 
and  no  comfortable  place  in  the  house  for  either  bipeds  or  quadrupeds  to  rest 
themselves.  In  this  way,  also,  the  dirt  will  not  be  trodden  backwards  and  for- 
wards, nor  swept  into  the  carpets  and  staircases  by  the  servants'  dresses. 

If  the  gentleman  of  the  house  can  be  persuaded  that  the  cleansing  process 
can  be  accomplished  more  readily  in  his  absence,  he  could  probably  be  induced 
to  enjoy  a  change  of  scene ;  and  then  the  labors  can  go  on  without  the  hindrance 
of  much  cookery,  which  always  consumes  so  large  a  portion  of  time  in  every 
household. 

Painting,  papering  and  whitewashing  are  the  order  of  the  day  in  Spring 
house-cleaning,  and  wherever  they  have  sway,  their  claims  upon  one's  time  are 
all  absorbing.  .  Yet  after  the  work  is  finished  to  one's  satisfaction,  the  annoyances 
one  has  been  subjected  to  are  slight  compared  to  the  enjoyment  one  takes  in  the 
fruit  of  their  labors. 

The  mioccupied  chambers  should  be  put  in  order  the  first,  and  those  rooms 


i6  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

that  are  used  the  most,  should  be  left  until  after  the  mud  and  dirt  of  unsettled 
roads  are  of  the  past,  and  less  soil  will  be  brought  into  the  house.  We  will  give 
in  detail  the  modus  operandi. 

Hoiv  to  Clean  a  Moom  Thorotiglily. 

All  the  articles  of  furniture  should  be  taken  from  their  places,  and  if  possible 
out  of  the  room.  If  the  chairs  and  lounge  are  upholstered,  they  should  be 
thoroughly  beaten  with  a  furniture  whip,  such  as  are  sold  at  house-furnishing 
stores.  It  can  be  made  by  lightly  braiding  or  twisting  together  two  or  three 
rattans,  and  uniting  the  ends  in  a  handle,  and  are  an  excellent  article  with 
which  to  beat  out  the  dust  from  all  furniture,  mattresses,  and  carpets.  After 
beating  the  two  first  articles  they  should  be  brushed  over  with  a  feather  duster, 
and  wiped  off  with  a  soft  cloth. 

If  the  furniture  cannot  be  removed  from  the  rooms,  cover  it  with  pieces  of 
cotton,  such  as  old  sheets  or  table  cloths.  But  the  better  plan  is  to  purchase 
twenty  yards  of  cheap  cotton  at  four  or  five  cents  a  yard — the  cheapest  made 
— and  sew  it  together  in  strips  like  sheets,  and  keep  them  especially  for  the  pur- 
pose of  covering  beds  and  furniture,  not  only  in  seasons  of  semi-annual,  but 
also  in  weekly  cleanings,  taking  care,  however,  to  wash  them  occasionally. 
The  pictures,  draperies  and  blinds  must  then  be  taken  down,  dusted  and 
cleaned.  If  it  has  been  decided  that  the  paperers  and  painters  are  not  needed, 
do  not  neglect  the  whitewasher,  for  his  work  is  very  essential  to  the  freshness 
of  chambers ;  besides,  the  lime  and  water  will  destroy  all  the  eggs  of  spiders  and 
the  like.  Then  the  paper  must  be  brushed  over  by  fastening  a  white  cloth  over 
the  top  of  a  broom,  and  sweeping  it  down  the  wall  in  regular  strokes,  so  as  not 
to  give  it  a  streaked  appearance.  If  the  room  is  used  for  a  sleeping  room,  take 
the  bed  to  pieces,  if  possible,  and  wash  all  the  unvarnished  parts  in  boiling  hot 
alum  and  water.     This  is  sure  death  to  insects  of  all  kinds. 

The  grate  and  fire-irons  must  be  black-leaded  and  rubbed  bright.  The  paint 
washed,  including  the  window-sashes,  the  windows  cleaned,  the  floor  scrubbed, 
the  carpet  well  beaten,  and  the  furniture  polished.  Then  when  the  sunshine 
has  aired  and  dried  the  room  thoroughly,  put  down  the  carpet,  and  replace  the 
furniture,  and  hang  up  the  curtains,  and  rejoice  in  the  beauty  of  your  surround- 
ings. 

Ho^v  to  Clean  Carpets. 

Carpets  should  always  be  beaten  on  the  wrong  side  first,  and  then  very  gently 
on  the  right  side;  and  care  should  be  taken  not  to  use  pointed  sticks,  as  they 
are  apt  to  tear  holes  in  thin  carpeting.  Ingrain  and  three-ply  carpets  should  be 
lifted  every  Spring,  and  if  the  room  is  used  constantly,  it  is  well  to  have  them 
shaken  in  the  Autumn  also,  as  the  dust  and  grit  penetrates  them  easily,  and 
helps  to  wear  them  out.  If  such  a  carpet  can  be  shaken  upon  the  crust  of  snow 
that  often  formg  hard  enough  to  bear  a  man,  in  the  early  Spring,  it  will  bo  well 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  17 

cleaned.  Then  after  it  is  laid  on  the  floor,  scatter  snow  over  it,  a  little  at  a 
time,  and  sweep  it  off,  and  it  will  revive  the  faded  colors.  Brussels  and  velvet 
carpets  do  not  need  to  be  taken  up  oftener  than  once  in  two  or  three  years ;  and 
the  heavy  Wiltons,  Moquettes  and  Axminsters,  not  oftener  than  once  in  three 
or  four  years.  Their  fabric  is  so  firm,  that  dust  cannot  sift  through  it,  and  a 
thorough  sweeping  will  cleanse  the  surface.  Then  take  two  ounces  of  carbonate 
of  ammonia  to  one  gallon  of  water,  and  wring  out  a  cloth  in  it,  and  rub  it, 
breadth  by  breadth,  all  over  the  carpet.  "Wring  out  the  cloth  in  the  water  at 
every  yard,  and  if  it  becomes  much  soiled,  procure  a  clean  supply.  If  after  a 
carpet  has  been  well  beaten  and  cleaned  in  this  way,  it  still  looks  soiled,  take 
a  pint  of  ox's  gall,  which  you  can  procui-eof  your  butcher,  and  turn  it  into  three 
quarts  of  cold  water,  and  rub  it  all  over  the  carpet  with  a  soft  scrubbing  brush. 
Rinse  the  lather  off  with  clear  cold  water,  and  rub  the  carpet  dry  with  a  soft  cloth. 

In  this  climate  we  cannot  do  without  carpets,  entirely,  yet  their  use  in  bed- 
rooms is  not  productive  of  cleanliness,  as  they  are  liable  to  harbor  vermin,  dust 
and  dirt.  Rugs  are  now  taking  the  place  of  carpets  to  quite  an  extent,  and  as 
they  can  be  taken  up  and  shaken  easily,  they  recommend  themselves  to  the  neat 
housewife.  A  square  rug  in  the  center  of  the  floor  with  a  small  one  at  the 
bureau,  door  and  washstand  will  answer  all  the  purposes  of  a  carpet.  If  the 
floor  is  not  well  laid,  however,  it  is  well  to  put  down  matting,  and  then  use  the 
rugs.  Or,  the  floor  can  be  painted  in  a  light  gray  or  ash  color,  and  a  Grecian 
pattern,  in  vermilion,  green,  bright  blue  or  brown  painted  all  around  the  edges 
of  it.  A  center  piece  could  also  be  painted  in  the  middle,  and  then  varnished 
or  oiled,  so  that  it  would  keep  bright  for  years.  Tiles  and  inlaid  woods  are,  of 
course,  much  more  elegant  for  floors,  and  when  the  first  cost  is  not  to  be  closely 
consulted,  they  are  really  the  cheapest  floors  that  can  be  laid.  If  the  planks  of  the 
floor  are  of  the  same  width,  they  can  be  painted  longitudinally  in  dark  brown, 
leaving  the  other  half  the  natural  color ;  and  when  thoroughly  dried,  can  be 
oiled,  and  in  this  way  an  ugly  floor  will  look  almost  as  well  as  if  it  were  made 
of  small  boards  of  hard  wood  of  two  colors. 

A  square  rug  can  be  made  of  breadths  of  Brussels  or  of  common  carpeting, 
sewed  together,  and  bordered  with  a  bright  bordering,  sewed  all  round  it ;  or 
a  fringe  can  be  made  for  it  of  woolen  cloth  cut  in  strips,  and  raveled  out,  and 
tied  in  knots. 

When  cleaning  rooms  in  which  the  carpets  are  not  taken  up,  be  careful  to 
spread  over  them  some  pieces  of  old  drugget,  or  sheets  of  newspaper  to  keep 
them  from  injury.  A  stiff  round,  or  pointed  brush  will  be  needed  to  brush  out 
the  dust  that  has  collected  in  the  corners,  and  along  the  wainscots. 

How  to  Clean   Wall  JPaper,  and   Walls. 

Brush  wall  paper  carefully  with  a  feather  duster,  and  with  a  cloth  tied  over  a 
broom  as  previously  directed.     But  if  after  dusting  thoroughly  thev  still  look 
2 


i8  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

much  soiled  and  grimmy,  take  lialf  a  loaf  of  very  stale  bread,  moisten  it  a  little 
on  the  cut  surface,  but  only  enough  to  dampen,  not  to  wet  it,  and  rub  the  wall, 
in  a  straight  line,  from  the  ceiling  to  the  mop-board,  very  gently,  and  iu  this 
way  go  all  over  the  jiaper.  Common  papers  cleaned  in  this  way  often  look  very 
nicely,  but  the  more  expensive  ones,  gilded,  etc.,  will  not  cleanse  as  well.  If 
stale  bread  cannot  be  had,  mix  up  a  lump  of  flour  and  water,  very  stiffly,  and 
use  it,  rubbing  the  wall  softly,  and  taking  the  length  of  the  arm  at  each  stroke. 
Cut  off  the  soiled  part  and  in  commencing  the  stroke  go  a  little  above  where  the 
last  one  ended,  but  be  careful  not  to  cross  the  paper,  or  rub  up  and  down.  It 
is  well  to  try  the  paper  first,  behind  a  wardrobe  or  bureau,  and  see  if  it  will 
clean  well. 

If  there  are  any  places  where  the  furniture  has  broken  through  the  paper  and 
plastei',  make  a  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  jilaster  of  Paris  and  silver  sand,  into 
a  paste  with  a  little  water,  and  fill  them  up  with  a  knife,  smoothing  off  the 
plaster  carefully.  Cut  some  pieces  of  paper  to  match  in  exactly,  and  the  patch 
will  not  be  visible.  Always  save  some  of  the  paper  of  each  room  in  the  house 
for  repairs,  and  if  any  place  becomes  soiled  or  defaced  wet  it  with  a  strong 
solution  of  saleratus  and  water,  when  it  will  peel  off  readily.  Then  put  in  a 
new  piece  with  a  paste  of  flour  and  water,  boiled  like  starch.  If  there  are  any 
spots  of  grease  on  the  walls,  mix  some  fuller's  earth  with  a  little  ox-gall  and 
cold  water  to  a  stiff  paste,  spread  it  on  the  spot  and  cover  it  with  a  little  blot- 
ting-paper, and  let  it  stand  for  three  or  four  hours  ;  then  brush  it  off,  and  if  any 
grease  remains,  put  on  some  more  of  the  paste,  and  proceed  as  before. 

To  Slaclc-lead  and  Polish  Ctrates. 

Grates  and  fenders  should  be  polished  in  every  part,  and  if  they  have  become 
discolored,  Brunswick  varnish  made  from  the  following  recipe  will  restore  the 
color  :  Melt  half  a  pound  of  asphaltum  gum  in  one  pint  of  oil  of  turpentine,  and 
when  it  has  become  well  dissolved,  stir  into  it  a  quarter  of  a  pint  of  linseed  oil. 
If  it  is  too  thick  to  run  easily  from  the  brush,  add  a  little  more  turpentine. 
These  materials  can  all  be  cheaply  obtained,  and  make  an  excellent  blacking 
for  ranges  as  well  as  grates.  Polished  grates  and  irons  must  be  rubbed  with  a 
dry  leather  every  two  days  or  so,  and  oftener  in  damp  weather.  If  they  have 
become  dulled  or  rusted,  rub  them  with  emery  paper,  or  if  you  cannot  obtain 
that,  mix  equal  parts  of  turpentine  with  sweet  oil,  and  stir  in  enough  emery 
powder  to  make  a  thin  paste.  Rub  this  on  the  steel  with  a  piece  of  old  flannel, 
rub  off  witli  another  picice,  and  brighten  with  old  newspapers,  which  are  also 
excellent  to  brighten  brasses  and  tins  after  they  have  been  well  scoured. 

To  Clean   White  raint. 

Neither  soap,  nor  soda,  nor  ashes  should  be  often  used  in  cleaning  white 
paint.     Take  a  handful  of  finely  powdered  whiting  on  a  plate,  and  have  a  piece 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  19 

of  soft  flannol,  and  a  pail  of  uann — not  hot  water.  Wet  tlio  flannel,  squeeze  it 
dry,  clip  it  into  the  powder,  and  rub  the  paint  up  and  down  until  it  is  clean  ; 
wash  olf  with  clear  wat(ir,  and  rub  dry  with  a  soft  cotton  or  linen  cloth.  If  the 
paint  is  much  soiled  with  coal  dust,  cigar  smoke,  etc.,  add  a  little  bullock's  gall 
to  the  whiting  and  it  will  come  off  readily.  In  washing  the  wainscot  take  great 
care  not  to  touch  the  edge  of  the  paper  with  the  wet  cloth,  as  it  would  injure  its 
appearance. 

To  Clean  If'ainscofs  and  all  Painted  Woods  3Iuch  Soiled. 

Four  ounces  of  potash  and  four  ounces  of  powdered  quicklime  should  be 
mixed  together,  and  three  quarts  of  boiling  water  poured  over  it.  Let  it  boil  in 
an  iron  kettle  for  half  an  hour.  Let  it  stand  until  it  is  cold  and  well  settled. 
Pour  off  the  clear  liquid  and  dip  a  painter's  brush  into  it,  and  pass  it  over  the 
surface  of  the  wood  in  the  same  way  as  in  painting.  Wipe  it  off  at  once  with  a 
flannel  wet  in  cold  water.  This  mode  of  cleaning  will  frequently  render  a  new 
coat  of  paint  unnecessary;  and  it  has  the  advantage  of  being  destructive  to  the 
eggs  of  all  kinds  of  insects,  M'hich  may  be  deposited  in  the  crevices  of  the  wain- 
scot. When  you  suspect  that  such  larvce  are  present,  as  an  additional  precau- 
tion, add  two  drachms  of  corrosive  sublimate  to  the  mixture,  and  not  a  cock- 
roach or  chintz  bug  will  venture  forth. 

To  Clean  Colored  and  Tarnished  Paints. 

Save  the  tea  grounds  for  several  days  before  house  cleaning.  Then  boil  them 
up  in  considerable  watei-,  for  half  an  hour.  Strain  off  the  water,  and  add  to  it 
one  table-spoonful  of  powdered  borax.  Take  a  soft  flannel  cloth  and  dip  into  it, 
squeeze  it  almost  dry,  and  wash  the  paint  with  it,  first  letting  it  become  nearly 
cool.  This  will  take  off  all  smoke,  dust  and  fly-specks,  and  give  to  varnished 
paint  a  bright,  new  look,  while  it  does  not  injure  the  paint  at  all.  Do  not  wet  a 
large  sm-face  at  once,  so  that  it  becomes  dry  before  it  is  rubbed  dry,  for  if  you 
do,  you  will  be  obliged  to  go  over  it  again.  Careless  wiping  of  paint  will  give  it 
a  streaked  look. 

IIoiv  to  Clean  the  Cellar. 

This  part  of  house  cleaning  is  often  neglected,  and  yet  it  is  of  the  greatest 
importance,  for  unless  it  is  free  from  foul  odors,  no  part  of  the  house  can  be 
healthful.  If  coal  is  used,  as  is  most  generally  the  case,  the  first  step  is  to 
remove  all  the  ashes,  after  they  have  been  well  sifted ;  and  as  they  make  an  excel- 
lent mulch  for  currants,  raspberries,  gooseberries,  etc.,  they  should  all  be  put  on 
the  garden.  But  if  you  are  not  the  fortunate  possessor  of  one,  and  the  ashes 
have  accumulated,  instead  of  being  removed  daily,  they  should  be  carted  away, 
or  spread  upon  the  street. 

Have  all  the  empty  barrels,  boxes,  and  the  like,  chopped  up  into  kindling 


20  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

wood,  if  they  are  not  desirable  for  other  uses.  And  now  is  the  best  time  to 
replenish  the  coal  bins  before  the  Spring  cleaning  occixrs,  as  it  cannot  be  put 
into  the  cellar  without  leaving  its  traces  in  other  parts  of  the  house ;  and  it  is 
usually  to  be  obtained  at  as  low  a  price  in  the  Spring  as  in  the  Autumn  when 
the  demand  for  it  is  much  greater.  Shut  the  registers  in  every  room  when  put- 
ting in  coal  or  removing  ashes.  The  furnace  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned  and 
the  pipes  brushed  out  and  renewed  if  needed.  Then  sweep  down  all  the  dust 
and  cobwebs  from  ceiling  a;iid  walls.  Carry  out  all  the  decaying  vegetables ; 
look  into  the  pork  and  beef  barrel,  and  see  that  their  contents  are  in  a  proper 
condition. 

Take  half  a  bushel  of  quicklime,  and  ten  pounds  of  copperas ;  dissolve  the 
latter  in  five  gallons  of  boiling  water  ;  when  it  has  melted,  stir  it  into  the  lime. 
A  firkin  is  a  good  thing  in  which  to  mix  it.  Stir  it  up  well ;  the  copperas 
makes  it  a  light  yellow.  With  a  whitewash  brush  wash  over  the  ceiling  and 
walls.  Let  one  coat  dry  well,  and  then  put  on  another.  It  will  sweeten  the 
foulest  cellar,  and  will  also  drive  out  all  kinds  of  vermin — even  rats  will  flee 
before  its  cleansing  influences. 

Dissolve  ten  pounds  of  copperas  in  five  or  six  gallons  of  water,  and  wash  all 
the  wood  work  with  it,  shelves,  etc.,  and  also  the  floor,  and  you  will  have  the 
sweetest  cellar  you  have  ever  seen. 

It  was  tried  in  an  old  house  whose  walls  were  filled  with  rats,  and  a  great 
stampede  followed.  Two  cats  could  not  devour  all  the  rats  that  were  running 
away;  while  the  neighboring  barns  and  outhouses  were  filled  with  them.  Cop- 
peras turns  lime  of  a  yellow  shade,  but  it  does  not  look  badly  on  the  cellar  walls. 

To  Clean  Heels  and  JBedding. 

Take  off  the  bedding,  and  carefully  examine  the  mattresses  and  bindings 
while  you  brush  out  all  the  dust  from  their  corners  and  sides  with  a  painter's 
brush.  Then  carry  them  out  into  the  yard  and  lay  them  on  the  dry  grass,  or 
put  them  on  the  roofs  of  the  piazza,  and  beat  them  very  thoroughly,  wiping 
off  the  dust  with  a  soft  cloth,  and  cleaning  out  the  tufts  that  tack  them  to- 
gether, with  the  little  brush.  If  there  are  traces  of  the  chintz  bug,  dissolve 
quarter  of  a  pound  of  alum  in  enough  boiling  water  to  hold  it  in  solution,  per- 
haps half  a  pint  will  do  it.  Dip  in  your  brush  and  rub  it  along  the  bindings 
and  through  the  corners  and  into  the  tufts  of  the  mattress,  and  no  larvce  can 
hatch  out.  If,  however,  these  pests  are  quite  numerous  take  a  little  powdered 
Paris  green  in  a  dredging  box,  and  shake  it  wherever  one  could  hide  in  the 
mattress. 

Wash  the  w-ood  of  the  bedsteads  with  the  boiling  hot  alum,  and  smear  the 
joints  with  a  mixture  of  soft  soap  and  red  pepper,  and  no  bugs  can  harbor  there. 
Use  the  Paris  green  with  caution,  as  it  is  a  poison;  so  do  not  inhale  it,  but  hold 
the  head  away  as  you  shake  the  dredger. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  21 

To  Clean  Windows  and  Mirrors. 

Windows  are  difficult  to  keep  clean  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  for  the  dust  of 
the  streets  as  well  as  of  the  house  lodges  upon  them,  and  even  while  cleaning  it 
is  blown  over  them.  But  a  soft  paper  dipped  into  a  little  alcohol  will  cleanse 
thoni  quickly,  and  give  a  better  polish  to  the  glass  than  water,  while  soap-suds 
and  a  soft  cloth  can  never  clean  glass  so  that  it  looks  well,  for  tliere  will  be 
traces  of  lint,  do  the  best  you  may,  and  the  newspaper  can  all  be  rubbed  off, 
easily,  if  not  moistened  too  much.  In  the  Winter  and  early  Spring,  alcohol  and 
watev  will  be  the  best  thing  to  use.  But  cold  tea,  pi-epared  as  directed  for  clean- 
ing varnished  and  colored  paint,  will  also  take  off  fly-specks  and  smoke  as  quickly 
and  give  almost  as  good  a  polish.  Dip  a  handful  of  newspapers  into  it,  and  rub 
tlie  glass  carefully  up  and  down,  not  zigzag,  and  across  corners.  Then  wipe  it 
dry  with  another  piece  of  paper.  IMirrors  can  be  cleaned  by  the  same  process. 
After  you  have  once  tried  it  you  will  never  allow  any  other  method  to  be  pur- 
sued. To  clean  the  corners  of  the  windows,  use  the  painter's  brush,  or  tie  a  bit 
of  flannel  around  a  stick. 

To  Wash  Floors. 

When  painted  floors  are  washed  often,  it  is  best  to  mop  them  up  with  weak 
soai>suds,  but  if  they  are  unpainted,  sand  and  warmish  water  alone  are  better, 
as  soap  and  soda  blacken  rather  than  whiten  plain  wood.  Fuller's  earth  and 
silver  scouring  sand  made  into  a  paste  and  rubbed  over  boards  will  also  whiten 
them.  It  should  be  sprinkled  over  the  floor,  and  be  well  scrubbed  in  the  dii'ec- 
tiou  of  the  grain  of  the  wood,  then  washed  off  with  lukewarm  water.  If  the 
floor  be  spotted  with  grease,  mix  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  pearlash  with  one  pint 
of  hot  water,  and  scrub  the  floor  with  it,  and  a  little  sand.  Some  white  wood 
ashes  from  the  fire-place  will  answer  the  same  purpose. 

To  Clean  J)oor-Knobs,  Bell-Pulls,  and  Sp€a1dng-Tr%imj)ets. 

Cut  a  hole  in  a  piece  of  soft  oil-cloth,  and  put  it  around  the  knob  or  bell-pull, 
and  it  will  protect  the  paper  or  paint  from  being  soiled  with  the  Sapolio,  or  whit- 
ing. Wet  a  flannel,  rub  on  the  Sapolio,  and  polish  the  knob.  Rub  dry  with 
chamois  leather. 

To  Clean  Pictures  and  Chromos. 

Brush  the  frames  with  a  soft  brush,  and  blow  the  dust  out  of  any  crevices 
which  cannot  be  touched  in  any  other  way.  Clean  the  glass  with  pieces  of  news- 
paper wetted  in  alcohol,  or  in  cold  tea,  and  be  careful  to  wash  them  straight, 
beginning  always  at  the  top  and  going  down  to  the  bottom,  and  taking  heed 
not  to  touch  the  gilt  moulding  or  frames.  If  the  frames  require  restoration, 
dissolve  as  much  flour  of  sulphur  as  will  give  the  required  yellow  tinge,  in  about 
a  quart  of  water,  and  boil  half  a  dozen  small  onions,  cut  in  slices,  in  the  liquid 


22  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

until  they  are  tender.     Strain  the  liquid,  and  when  it  is  quite  cold,  wash  the 
frames  with  it,  and  let  them  dry  without  wiping  off. 

To  clean  colored  chromos,  wet  a  cloth  in  a  little  cold  tea,  do  not  have  it  too 
wet,  only  dampened,  and  rub  up  and  down  until  every  fly-speck  has  disappeared ; 
then  wipe  it  off  with  a  piece  of  chamois.  If  they  are  very  much  discolored, 
after  washing  as  directed  above,  take  a  little  bit  of  olive  oil  on  a  soft  leather, 
aud  polish  the  surface. 

To  Clean  Venetian  Blinds. 

Unfasten  the  tape  at  the  bottom  of  the  blind,  and  draw  out  all  the  laths. 
Wash  them  with  lukewarm  water  and  a  very  little  soap,  or  wiUi  cold  tea,  and 
dry  them  thoroughly.  When  put  up  again  take  care  that  the  cords  which  come 
down  in  the  middle  of  the  tapes  are  put  in  properly,  as,  if  it  is  not  attended  to, 
the  narrow  tapes  will  fray. 

To  Clean  Oil-Cloths. 

Oil-cloth  should  not  be  washed  in  soap-suds  or  scoured  with  a  brush,  because 
it  I'ubs  off  the  paint,  and  fades  the  colors.  Wash  them  with  lukewarm  water 
and  a  soft  flannel,  wipe  perfectly  dry.  Then  take  sweet  skimmed  milk,  and 
"wipe  the  oil-cloth  with  it.  By  this  way  it  can  be  kept  clean  and  bright  and  will 
also  last  much  longer.  When  oil-cloths  have  become  dulled  with  soap-suds,  take 
a  little  common  varnish  and  a  small  brush,  and  varnish  them  all  over.  Of  com'se 
they  must  not  be  trodden  upon  until  the  varnish  has  hardened  well.  Linseed 
oil  will  do  as  well  as  varnish. 

To  3Ia7te  a  Kitchen  Oil-Clot Ji. 

If  you  have  a  worn-out  tapestry  or  Brussels  carpet,  you  can  make  an  excellent 
oil-cloth  for  the  kitchen.  Spread  it  wrong  side  outwards  in  the  barn  or  on  the 
grass,  and  paint  it  all  over  with  any  color  you  may  fancy — light  gray,  Spanish 
brown,  blue,  green,  or  the  like.  Let  it  dry  hard,  then  add  a  second  coat ;  let  it 
harden,  and  varnish  with  common  varnish.  This  will  make  a  far  better  oil- 
cloth than  you  can  buy.  Any  painter  will  furnish  the  paints,  and  prepare  them 
with  reference  to  the  work. 

To  Protect  the  Edges  of  Oil -Cloths. 

All  housekeepers  who  use  pieces  of  oil-cloth  to  spread  under  stoves  and  in 
front  of  fire-places,  know  how  liable  the  edges  are  to  fringe  or  ravel  out,  and 
tear  up.  It  matters  not  how  strongly  they  may  be  nailed,  they  will  become  an 
eye-sore ;  and  even  when  braid  is  used  it  soon  wears  out,  and  the  resources  of 
the  house  fail  to  furnish  something  durable  and  strong.  This  can  be  fouhd, 
however,  in  strips  of  zinc,  cut  one  and  a  half  inches  in  width,  and  in  lengths  to 
correspond  with  the  sides  of  the  oil-cloth.     Fold  the  parallel  edges  of  the  strips 


V 

HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  23 

neatly  together,  insert  the  edges  of  the  oil-cloth,  and  secure  it  by  copper  rivets. 
"When  well  done  the  contrast  between  the  bits  of  bright  copper  and  the  zinc  is 
pleasing  to  the  eye,  while  it  will  make  one  piece  of  oil-cloth  outlast  two  put 
down  in  the  cununon  way. 

To  Make  a  Cheai)  Carpet. 

Sew  together  strips  of  cheap  cotton  cloth,  to  match  the  floor  you  desire  to 
cover ;  make  a  stiff  rye  flour  paste  with  a  little  powdered  borax  or  alum  in  it. 
And  paste  upon  it  sheets  of  wall-paper  of  some  bright  small  pattern.  Paste  one 
strip  at  a  time,  smoothing  it  down  carefully  with  pieces  of  old  cotton.  "When 
it  has  dried  perfectly,  and  presents  an  even  surface,  take  some  common  varnish, 
and  with  a  large  brush,  varnish  the  whole  surface.  Let  it  dry  hard,  then  var- 
nish again.  Thus  prepared  it  can  be  washed  like  oil-cloth,  and  wiped  over  with 
skimmed  milk  ;  and  it  will  keep  a  good  gloss,  and  if  not  hardly  used,  make  a 
serviceable  carpet  for  years. 

Hoiv  to  Use  Old  Carpets. 

IMany  a  good  rug  can  be  made  out  of  the  unworn  portions  of  the  breadths  of 
an  old  carpet.  For  greater  durability  they  can  be  lined  with  old  drilling,  tow- 
cloth,  parts  of  old  sheets,  or  pieces  of  the  same  carpet  that  are  more  worn  out. 
Sew  the  edges  together  and  bind  with  a  piece  of  carpet  binding.  Points  of 
bright  colored  cloth  two  inches  deep  also  make  a  pretty  border ;  two  rows  in 
different  coloi's  can  be  sewed  on  to  lap  over  the  other.  A  good  strong  edge  can 
be  made  of  rows  of  braided  woolen  stuffs.  If  the  center  of  a  braided  mat  is 
made  of  a  pretty  piece  of  carpet  it  is  a  great  improvement  to  it,  and  does  not 
take  nearly  as  many  yards  of  braid  to  make  a  rug. 

Pieces  of  carpet  that  are  not  large  enough  to  cover  rugs  will  make  nice  little 
crickets  or  stools,  or  boxes  for  holding  slippers,  rubbers,  etc.,  or  old  newspapers 
for  kindling  fires.  A  large  box  to  hold  wood  or  coal  can  be  covered  with  car- 
peting, and  also  make  a  good  seat  by  placing  hay  or  straw  on  the  top  of  it,  and 
covering  it  with  batting,  then  tacking  over  it  some  strong  cotton  cloth,  and 
again  covering  with  the  carpet.  If  neatly  covered  and  cushioned,  the  box  is 
not  out  of  place  in  a  dining-room,  and  is  an  excellent  receptacle  for  the  table 
linen  of  all  kinds.  Another  can  be  made  to  hold  the  sheets  and  pillow-cases  in 
a  sleeping  room.  Shoe,  soap,  starch  and  salt  boxes  can  all  be  made  available  in 
this  way.  Strong  iron  hinges  can  be  placed  upon  the  backs  and  lids,  or  straps 
of  leather,  nailed  longitudinally  to  each,  can  do  duty  for  them.  If  there  is  not 
enough  old  carpeting  on  hand,  chintz  ov  cretonne  will  answer  your  purpose,  aud 
add  decidedly  to  the  comfort  of  your  surroundings. 


24  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

Hoiv  to  Air  Beds. 

The  most  effectual  way  to  air  beds  and  bed  clothing  is  to  throw  the  clothes 
over  a  chair,  and  lift  the  mattress  partly  over  the  foot  board  in  a  round  hoop 
like  fashion,  and  if  a  feather  bed  is  used  pull  it  off  upon  a  chair.  Then  open 
the  windows  and  door  so  that  a  current  of  air  can  pass  through  the  room,  and 
let  it  remain  so  for  two  or  three  hours,  or  even  longer.  Beds  thus  aired  are 
always  healthful,  and  will  induce  sound  sleep  in  their  occupants.  Each  mem- 
ber of  the  family  should  be  trained  to  do  this  daily,  and  never  allowed  to  leave 
the  room  until  it  is  so  arranged.  Boys  as  well  as  girls  can  be  taught  to  do  this, 
and  they  will  reap  the  benefit  of  it  through  their  lives,  and  be  sure  to  have  their 
children  trained  in  the  same  way. 

A  bed  that  is  only  aired  occasionally  must  contract  impurities  fi'om  the  body 
and  cannot  be  fresh  and  sweet.  Some  persons  hang  the  pillows  out  of  the  win- 
dows, and  it  is  an  excellent  plan,  if  you  will  first  brush  off  the  dust  on  the  sill. 

3Iosquito  and  Fit/  ^ets. 

Those  of  our  readers  who  can  purchase  fine  woven  wire  in  good  hard  wood 
frames  need  no  directions  for  securing  their  windows  and  doors  against  the 
entrance  of  these  annoyances.  But  for  the  million  we  would  recommend  mosquito- 
netting  that  can  be  bought  in  white,  pink  or  blue,  and  any  man  or  boy  who  can 
use  a  jack-knife  and  a  hammer  and  nails,  can  make  a  suitable  frame  to  fit  any  win- 
dow. "With  the  aid  of  a  plane,  nice  strips  of  wood  can  be  made,  and  if  they  are 
dove-tailed  together  at  the  corners,  and  then  nicely  painted  a  dark  red,  they  will 
last  many  years.  Lacking  these  appliances,  however,  common  lath  can  be  made 
to  answer  your  purpose.  Cut  two  strips  to  fit  the  width  of  the  window,  a  little 
short  to  give  room  for  the  netting,  and  two  more  the  length  of  the  open  window 
for  the  uprights.  Nail  these  firmly  together  at  the  corners,  and  cover  the  frame 
with  netting,  either  pasting  it  on,  or  nailing  tightly.  Mosquito  netting  can  also 
be  nailed  over  the  window  sashes  on  the  outside  of  the  frame.  Frames  for  doors, 
with  a  support  through  the  middle  and  hung  upon  the  inside  of  the  house  with 
strong  hinges,  or  simple  straps  of  leather,  and  covered  with  the  netting,  are  of 
great  comfort  to  the  housewife  during  the  heated  term. 

JIow  to  Ite2)el  Moths. 

:Moths  seldom  touch  cotton  fabrics,  but  they  delight  to  cut  their  way  through 
woolen  articles,  and  even  a  casing  of  leather  is  of  little  avail  as  a  protection. 
But  if  the  moth  miller  cannot  find  entrance  to  deposit  her  eggs,  there  is  no  dan- 
ger from  their  ravages.  If  the  crevices  of  a  floor  have  become  filled  with  them, 
dissolve  half  a  pound  of  alum  in  boiling  water,  and  wash  every  part  of  the  mop 
boards,  and  fill  up  the  scams  between  the  boards  with  jtovvdered  borax,  and  few, 
if  any  of  the  eggs  will  hatch  out.     Wrap  a  cloth  around  a  pointed  stick  and  wet 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  25 

it  in  the  hot  alum  water  and  wash  out  the  corners  of  the  floor,  for  it  is  there 
that  the  millers  often  deposit  their  eggs. 

If  moths  are  in  the  carpet,  and  you  do  not  like  to  take  it  up,  wet  towels  of 
common  brown  crash,  in  the  hot  alum  water,  and  lay  it  wherever  their  ravages 
appear,  and  place  a  moderately  hot  flat-iron  over  it,  letting  it  steam  into  the  fibre 
of  the  carpet.  It  will  not  injure  the  wool,  or  the  colors,  but  the  heat  and  the 
alum  will  surely  destroy  all  the  larva. 

In  furnace-heated  houses  moths  are  constant  in  their  depredations,  and  when- 
ever you  see  a  miller  flying  about,  you  must  strive  to  kill  it ;  but  the  gas-light 
or  a  candle  will  lure  many  to  destruction.  As  early  as  possible  in  the  Spring, 
powdered  borax  should  be  scattered  wherever  the  moths  are  at  work.  To  be 
sure  nearly  every  housekeeper  has  her  pet  remedy  for  these  pests,  and  some  use 
red  or  black  pepper,  or  sandal-wood,  or  camphor,  or  Persian  powder.  A  strong 
odor  is  not  liked  by  the  millers,  and  therefore  they  do  not  select  their  nests  in 
such  places.  Kerosene  is  particularly  disagreeable  to  them,  but  as  it  is  also  to 
nearly  every  biped,  we  could  not  recommend  its  use. 

If  all  woolen  garments,  etc.,  are  done  up  in  tight  newspaper  packages,  and 
packed  away  in  dravi'ers,  on  top  of  which  camphor  gum  and  borax  are  sprinkled, 
one  need  have  little  occasion  to  trouble  about  them,  unless  the  eggs  were  in  the 
garments  when  thus  packed  away.  Therefore,  it  is  well  to  hang  woolen  garments 
upon  the  clothes  line  some  bright  windy  day,  and  whip  them  with  a  riding  whip 
or  a  rattan.     Then  fold  them  up,  and  put  them  away  at  once. 

How  to  Take  Care  of  Furs, 

Some  ladies  think  that  when  Spring  comes,  if  they  put  away  their  furs,  with 
care,  in  a  camphor  trunk,  or  wrapped  tightly  in  old  newspapers,  and  then  in 
pillow-cases,  with  plenty  of  powdered  camphor,  black  pepper  or  moth  powder 
mixed  in,  they  have  done  all  that  is  requisite.  But  furs  should  first  be  care- 
fully brushed  the  right  way  of  the  fur  with  a  soft  brush,  and  then  an  old  linen 
or  silk  handkerchief  should  be  folded  smoothly  over  them,  instead  of  the  stiff 
paper  that  mats  the  fur ;  gum  camphor,  or  any  of  the  moth  repellers  can  then  be 
scattered  over  them,  and  the  boxes  can  be  hung  up  in  pillow-cases  or  bolster  covers, 
tied  around  with  a  string.  More  harm,  however,  is  often  done  to  furs  by  wearing 
them  when  the  sun  shines  warm  in  the  early  Spring,  than  during  the  whole  of 
the  Winter,  for  it  soon  makes  them  shabby. 

Prevention  Against  Moths  in  Clothing  and  Furs. 

A  very  pleasant  perfume  for  Moolen  clothes  and  furs,  and  a  preventive  against 
moths,  can  be  made  by  the  following  recipe  :  Take  one  ounce  each  of  cloves, 
cinnamon,  mace,  nutmeg,  caraway  seeds,  and  Tonquin-beans,  add  their  whole 
weight  in  orris  root ;  grind  the  whole  to  the  finest  powder,  and  put  it  in  little 
bags  among  your  bureau  drawers  and  boxes  of  clothing.     This  will  expel  all 


26  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

motli  millers.  The  best  protection  to  furs  is  to  beat  them  lightly  Tvith  a  rattan, 
then  scatter  this  powder  over  them  slightly,  and  do  them  up  in  newspapers, 
pasting  their  corners  securely  together.  Put  in  a  box  or  bag,  scatter  the  pow- 
der in  the  top  of  it,  and  not  a  moth  will  ever  enter  there. 

The  Flagiie  of  Ants. 

As  the  warm  days  come  on  in  Summer,  the  plague  of  ants  commences,  and 
the  housewife  finds  her  closet  and  pantry  shelves  covered  with  tiny  red  and 
black  ants,  and  larger  black  ones  will  also  soon  appear  and  infest  every  drawer 
and  shelf.  Chalk  is  an  antidote  against  them.  Take  a  large  piece  and  draw  a 
thick,  broad  mark  all  around  the  cupboard  shelves,  going  over  it  again  and 
again  to  deepen  it.  Draw  the  same  half  inch  line  on  the  edges  of  the  sugar 
barrels  or  buckets,  indeed,  everywhere  that  they  incline  to  congregate.  If  they 
are  very  thick  upon  the  shelves,  wet  a  large  sponge,  and  sprinkle  powdered  sugar 
over  it,  and  dip  it  every  morning  into  boiling  water,  squeezing  it  nearly  dry,  and 
setting  the  trap  again.  In  this  way  every  ant  will  be  expelled.  Red  pepper 
scattered  plentifully  over  the  shelves  will  also  drive  them  away ;  and  it  is  said 
that  leaves  of  wintergreen,  or  young  ivy,  or  of  walnut  trees,  if  laid  upon  the 
shelves  and  on  the  floors  of  pantries  will  rid  them  of  the  plague.  Powdered 
alum  or  borax  will  drive  away  all  the  large  black  species. 

An  Home-made  Refrigerator. 

Nearly  all  housekeepers  who  are  not  able  to  obtain  a  refrigerator,  Iceep  their 
ice  wrapped  up  in  bits  of  old  carpeting  or  some  non-conducting  material,  which 
wastes  the  ice,  and  affords  no  help  in  preserving  food.  To  them  these  directions 
may  offer  attractions  :  Take  two  large  wooden  boxes  —  dry  goods  boxes  for 
instance — select  the  second  one  about  a  couple  of  inches  smaller  on  all  sides,  and 
bore  a  one-inch  hole  in  both,  correspondingly,  to  give  drainage  and  ventilation. 
Perhaps  a  couple  of  holes  would  do  better.  Fill  up  the  space  under  the  boxes 
■with  powdered  charcoal  or  coal  ashes.  Put  the  inner  box  in  place,  and  fill  up 
all  the  spaces  with  the  same.  Saw-dust  might  do  if  nothing  better  is  procura- 
ble, yet  it  is  apt  to  become  musty.  Fix  on  the  lids  to  both  boxes  to  fit  tightly, 
■with  iron  liinges,  (leather  ones  can  be  substituted,)  and  fasten  with  straps  of 
leather,  or  a  lock  and  key.  Put  shelves  on  each  side  of  the  inner  box  by  means 
of  cleats.  Leave  a  place  in  the  center  for  the  ice.  This  is  a  rough  refrigerator, 
to  be  sure,  but  far  better  than  none.  A  zinc  lining,  or  one  of  felting,  would 
improve  the  inner  box.  A  rack  made  of  lathing  can  be  laid  at  the  bottom  for 
the  ice  to  rest  upon.  Legs  can  be  added  to  the  outer  box  by  putting  pieces  of 
■wood  at  each  corner,  and  the  drainage  and  ventilation  will  be  improved ;  and 
an  ingenious  man  can  make  an  excellent  ice  box  in  this  way. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  27 

Hints  on  Drcss-malcing. 

Tlianks  to  various  fashion  books  and  pattern  dealers,  the  housewife  need  not 
always  await  the  leisure  of  the  village  dress-maker,  but  can  select  a  suitable 
pattern,  and  do  the  cutting,  fitting  and  making  at  home,  which  in  these  days 
of  high  priced  dress-making,  is  a  great  saving  in  tlie  household  expenses.  Yet 
to  the  inexperienced  a  few  rules  may  not  come  amiss. 

It  is  often  well  to  lay  your  cloth  out  upon  the  floor  or  table,  after  the  skirt  has 
been  duly  cut,  and  plan  the  cutting  of  it,  seeing  where  the  sleeves  can  come  out, 
and  how  the  various  pieces  will  fit  one  into  the  other.  But  to  do  this  it  is 
sometimes  needful  to  smooth  out  the  patterns  with  an  iron. 

Then  look  to  see  if  the  fabric  has  an  up  and  down  figure,  and  a  right  and 
wrong  side,  and  arrange  the  patterns  accordingly.  If  it  possesses  neither,  it  can 
be  cut  out  of  less  cloth,  because  the  gores  can  be  matched  in  better,  and  it  can 
be  turned  either  way.  Have  a  small  saucer  to  hold  the  pins,  sharp  scissors, 
and  a  tape  measure.  Re  careful  to  see  that  opposite  sides  of  figures,  stripes  or 
plaids  match  alike,  in  backs  and  fronts  of  the  body.  Have  both  side  forms  of 
the  same  size,  and  let  the  strain  at  the  bottom  of  the  waist  come  exactly  on  the 
straight  cross-ways  of  the  cloth. 

The  outside  seam  of  a  sleeve  at  the  top  should  always  be  the  straight  way  of 
the  goods.  The  inside  seam  should  come  exactly  in  the  center  of  the  arm-size, 
and  the  upper  part  of  the  front  of  the  sleeve  should  curve  sharply,  and  be  at 
least  three  inches  above  the  under  side  at  the  top,  and  it  should  be  held  a  little 
full  in  seaming  in,  and  sewed  on  the  inside  of  the  sleeve. 

Puffs  and  ruffles,  with  few  exceptions,  should  be  cut  on  the  perfect  bias  ; 
bands,  folds  and  pipings  always  on  the  bias,  or  cross-ways  of  the  cloths. 

In  seaming  a  skirt  begin  at  the  top  when  possible  and  sew  down,  and  hold 
the  bias  side  of  the  gores  towards  you.  If  not  possible,  commence  by  pinning 
the  gores  together  at  the  top,  and  sew  from  the  bottom.  In  sewing  up  a  shoul- 
der seam  hold  the  front  very  tight,  pulling  it  firmly,  from  half  way  up  the 
neck,  then  hold  the  back  tightly  the  rest  of  the  way.  It  is  well  to  commence  to 
baste  it  in  the  center.     This  way  will  prevent  many  wrinkles. 

If  one  is  stout  take  up  a  pleat,  in  the  lining,  at  the  button-holes,  parallel  with 
the  front  bias,  also  one  under  the  arm  on  the  front  part  of  the  basque,  taking  it 
in  a  slanting  direction.  Silk  makes  the  best  linings,  and  parts  of  old  skirts  can 
be  used ;  the  next  best  is  tailor's  drilling  or  jean.  Black  linen  makes  a  good 
lining  for  black  dresses  that  pull  on  the  seams.  Boil  the  linen  in  spent  suds 
after  the  washing  is  over,  rinse  thoroughly  in  strong  bluing  water,  and  iron 
while  quite  damp.  It  is  a  very  durable  lining,  and  will  last  longer  than  two 
silk  linings. 

"Whalebones  should  always  be  split  in  two,  for  if  stiff  they  do  not  curve  into 
the  figure.  AVoolen  braids  should  be  shrunken  in  boiling  water,  before  putting 
on  to  the  dress.     Shoulder  and  arm  seams  should  be  turned  to  the  front  to 


28  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

avoid  drawing.  For  scant  ruffles  allow  one-quarter  or  one-tliirdof  the  fullness. 
For  knife  plaits  allow  three  times  the  length  of  the  skirt  or  polonaise. 

From  the  middle  of  the  front  the  skirt  should  slojie  gradually  to  the  first 
seam,  which  should  be  a  short  inch  longer  than  the  skirt  in  front.  For  a  stout 
figure  make  a  little  seam  at  each  side  of  the  front  gore,  or  breadth.  Water- 
proof cloaks  should  always  be  cut  on  the  bias  in  the  center  of  the  back,  as 
it  prevents  the  ungraceful  drooping  at  the  sides  after  the  cloth  has  been 
wetted. 

If  you  use  stiff  linings  for  waist  bodies,  pull  it  out  as  much  as  possible,  and 
ii'on  smoothly  before  cutting  out  the  pattern. 

JPlaui  Needlework, 

Every  girl  should  learn  how  to  cut  out,  and  make  her  own  underclothing,  and 
although  it  takes  some  little  ability  to  become  a  skilled  workwoman,  yet  if  one 
perseveres,  in  the  end,  the  trade  will  be  obtainable  by  all.  A  seamtress  has 
often  not  been  taught  to  cut  out,  and  you  are  forced  to  handle  the  scissors,  if 
not  to  do  the  sewing.  But  in  these  days  of  paper  patterns,  every  one  can  be 
taught  to  cut,  although  the  gift  of  good  fitting  is  not  always  obtainable,  as  forms 
differ  so  essentially ;  and  a  good  cut  for  underclothing  is  only  second  in  impor- 
tance to  a  good  cut  for  dresses  and  outside  garments. 

In  teaching  young  girls  to  cut  and  sew,  buy  the  soft  undressed  cottons,  and 
let  them  see  you  cut  out  one  garment ;  and  then  try  to  pin  the  pattern  and  cut 
it  themselves.  A  little  study  into  the  matter  will  often  enable  you  to  save  cloth, 
and  therefore,  it  is  well  to  lay  it  out  upon  a  large  table,  or  on  the  floor,  and  see 
how  it  can  be  cut  to  the  best  advantage.  Let  the  beginner  try  to  cut  evenly, 
with  long  strokes  of  the  scissors  ;  and  then  try  to  sew  evenly,  also.  Perfection 
in  cutting  and  sewing  will  not  come  at  once,  but  it  can  be  attained ;  and,  how- 
ever wealthy  you  may  be,  you  will  never  find  that  a  knowledge  of  plain  needle- 
work is  to  be  despised,  for  if  it  serves  no  other  purpose,  it  will  teach  you  liow 
hard  it  is  to  become  an  adept  in  the  art. 

FUuinels. 

It  is  a  good  plan  to  shrink  all  flannels  before  they  are  cut  out,  by  dipping 
them  into  quite  warm  water,  and  rinsing  in  lukewarm  water.  Wring  them 
through  the  wringer,  and  dry  quickly,  in  the  sun,  or  by  the  range.  All  flannel 
clothing  should  be  gathered,  if  any  fullness  is  desired,  rather  than  plaited, 
because  in  the  latter  case,  they  become  thick  and  matted  in  washing  and  wear- 
ing ;  and  in  the  event  of  their  being  turned,  from  top  to  bottom,  in  order  to 
alter  the  wear,  the  part  that  had  been  plaited  will  be  found  so  much  injured, 
that  it  cannot  be  used.  Under-flannel  garments  should  be  changed  very  often, 
as  they  imbibe  perspiration,  aud  become  injuriou-s  to  the  health  rather  than  a 
preservative. 


I  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  29 

Hints  for  the  Laundry, 

Machinery  holds  tlie  same  relation  to  washing  that  it  does  to  sewing,  i.  e.,  it 
does  the  work  expeditiously,  and  with  a  great  saving  of  labor,  but  it  does  require 
knowledge  and  experience  to  make  it  available,  so  that  in  the  hands  of  the  igno- 
rant it  will  not  always  give  satisfaction. 

In  selecting  a  washing-machine,  the  simplest  arc  the  most  desirable,  because 
they  subject  the  clothes  to  less  friction.  But  a  wringer  is  a  necessity  for  eveiy 
one,  as  it  saves  so  much  manual  labor.  Soft  water  is  also  essential,  and  an 
abundant  supply  of  hot  and  cold  water,  with  two  or  more  tubs,  according  to  the 
size  of  your  family. 

Articles  for  the  laundry  should  be  sorted  over,  and  dirty  towels  and  greasy 
cloths  kept  apart  from  fine  clothing ;  while  colored  things  and  flannels  should 
always  be  washed  sejiarately.  It  saves  the  clothes  and  also  labor  to  put  them  in 
lukewarm  water  over  night,  rubbing  the  most  soiled  portions,  such  as  bindino-s 
to  shirts  and  wristbands.  The  soiled  articles  should  always  be  laid  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  tub.  All  white  clothing  should  be  washed  in  two  waters ;  then  boiled, 
and  rinsed  twice,  once  from  the  soap-suds,  and  then  in  bluing  water. 

Washing  fluids,  which  are  composed  of  lye,  or  sal-soda  and  lime,  are  injurious 
to  white  cotton  fabrics,  and  should  never  be  used  for  colored  clothes.  In  the 
hands  of  experienced  washerwomen  they  are,  however,  often  of  service,  l.)ut  if 
used  by  the  ignorant  washerwoman,  too  large  a  quantity  is  often  taken  to  save 
labor,  and  of  course  the  clothing  must  suffer.  The  practice  of  using  lye  to 
whiten  clothes,  while  boiling,  is  particularly  injurious,  as  it  always  decays  the 
fabric. 

The  Use  of  Borax. 

Borax  is  of  the  greatest  use  in  the  laundry,  and  as  it  does  not  affect  the  fabric 
of  the  cotton,  or  injure  the  hands  of  tiie  washerwoman,  we  would  recommend  it 
highly.  When  it  is  mixed  with  sal-soda  it  renders  it  deleterious,  and  the  fol- 
lowing is  an  excellent  washing  fluid  for  all  white  articles. 

Washing  Fluid, 

One  j-iound  of  sal-soda  and  one  pound  of  borax,  dissolved  in  six  gallons  of 
warm  water.  When  cold  add  five  ounces  of  salts  of  tartar.  But  the  fluid  into 
jugs  or  bottles.  When  used  add  one  table-spoonful  of  it  to  every  two  gallons  of 
water  in  which  the  clothes  are  soaked  over  night.  Next  morning  wring  them 
out,  and  turn  the  water  into  the  boiler,  and  when  hot  enough,  pour  it  over  the 
clothes,  and  wash  them  with  soap,  adding  more  water  as  required.  It  takes 
much  less  soap  when  this  fluid  is  used.  When  putting  the  clothes  on  to  boil, 
add  two  table-spoonfuls  of  it  to  the  suds.  Once  used  the  washerwoman  will 
always  desire  it,  as  it  finishes  the  work  more  satisfactorily. 


30  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

Jiecipe  for  Bluiug. 

One  ounce  of  Prussian  blue ;  half  an  ounce  of  oxalic  acid.  Put  in  a  bottle 
and  add  one  quart  of  rain-water.  Be  sure  the  water  is  very  soft,  or  the  ingre- 
dients will  not  dissolve  entirely.  This  is  the  cheapest  and  best  bluing  in  use. 
It  can  be  filtered  through  blotting-paper  if  it  leaves  any  sediment. 

To  Wash  Laces  and  3Iuslhis. 

Laces  and  muslins  must  never  be  rubbed  in  washing.  Take  a  bar  of  white 
soap  and  shave  off  a  little  of  it  into  enough  hot  water  to  dissolve  it,  and  when 
cold  it  will  be  like  a  jelly.  Mix  a  little  of  it  with  tepid  water,  and  let  the  lace, 
etc.,  lie  in  it  over  night,  then  add  a  little  boiling  water  and  squeeze  them 
repeatedly  through  the  hands,  so  as  to  wash  them,  but  do  not  rub  them,  as  that 
will  wear  out  the  fabric.  Lay  them  in  a  deep  napp}',  or  small  tub,  and  rinse 
them  again  and  again  in  clear  water,  then  set  them  in  the  sun,  still  in  water,  to 
whiten  the  laces.  If  the  laces  or  muslins  are  small  put  them  in  a  glass  preserve 
jar,  with  a  little  soap  in  the  water,  and  set  it  outside  the  window  in  the  sun, 
until  it  has  become  sufficiently  bleached. 

To  give  lace  and  muslins  that  light,  transparent  look  which  new  ai-ticles  pos- 
sess, mix  the  starch  with  a  little  cold  water,  mashing  it  with  a  spoon  till  quite 
smooth,  then  add  more  water  until  it  looks  like  milk  and  water.  Poll  it  in  a 
yellow  nappy  until  it  is  clear.  Let  it  cool,  and  when  comfortably  warm  to  the 
hands,  put  in  the  laces  and  muslins,  and  squeeze  out  gently ;  then  put  them  in 
a  soft  cloth,  and  squeeze  as  dry  as  possible.  Take  out  each  article  by  itself,  and 
beat  it  between  the  palms  of  the  hands  to  clear  the  starch  from  it.  Fold  up  in 
a  damp  towel,  as  soon  as  the  beating  is  over. 

In  doing  up  laces  and  muslins  to  look  well,  a  great  deal  depends  upon  the 
ironing.  First,  the  table  should  be  covered  with  several  thicknesses  of  soft 
blanket,  because  if  it  is  hard  the  embroidery  will  be  flattened  too  much,  and  a 
thin  soft  linen  cloth  should  be  laid  on  the  blanket.  In  spreading  out  the  article 
to  iron,  see  that  it  lies  perfectly  even,  so  it  will  not  look  wispy  when  fin- 
ished. The  iron  must  be  rubbed  over  dry  salt,  or  with  a  bar  of  soap,  and  then 
polished  on  a  cloth,  so  that  it  will  not  stick  to  the  starch  ;  or  be  too  hot  to 
scorch  the  lace.  Scorching  is  a  common  fault  with  the  inexi)erienced  ironer, 
and  it  is  a  very  bad  one,  for  it  leaves  a  stain  that  is  ruinous  to  clear  starching, 
and  sometimes  it  is  too  deep  to  be  removed  without  rotting  the  fabric.  A  little 
practice,  however,  in  handling  irons,  will  soon  teach  you  the  proper  degree  of 
heat,  and  until  you  have  learned  it,  it  is  well  to  have  an  old  napkin  or  bit  of 
cloth  with  which  to  try  the  iron,  before  it  is  put  over  nice  laces,  etc. 

If  the  starch  sticks  to  the  iron,  fold  up  several  thicknesses  of  newspaper,  and 
rub  a  little  beeswax  over  the  flat-iron,  and  then  rub  it  upon  the  paper  until  all 
grease  is  removed.     This  is  an  excellent  precaution  in  ironing  shirts. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  31 

How  to  Iron  Shii'fs,  Skh-ts,  Vests,  etc. 

A  bosom  board  is  a  needful  adjunct  to  the  iron  table,  and  it  can  be  made  of 
well-seasoned  pine,  one  inch  thick,  or  a  little  more  will  do,  eighteen  inches  in 
lengtlj,  and  twelve  in  width.  Cover  it  with  several  thicknesses  of  an  old 
blanket,  stretching  it  over  on  one  side,  and  tacking  it  firmly.  Cover  this  with 
two  thicknesses  of  Canton  flannel,  fieecy  side  up,  nailing  it  with  upholsterer's 
tacks  so  as  to  hold  it  firmly.  On  the  nailed  side,  spread  a  layer  of  thick  paste 
made  with  wheat  or  rye  flour,  and  stretch  over  it  a  piece  of  Canton  flannel,  and 
when  it  dries,  paste  on  another  and  another  until  you  have  five  thicknesses  of 
the  cotton— letting  each  one  dry  thoroughly  before  another  one  is  added.  The 
last  one  can  be  made  to  cover  the  edges  of  the  others,  and  be  nailed  on  to  the 
side  of  the  board  with  brads.  The  hard  side  will  give  a  good  polish  to  cuffs, 
collars  and  shirt  bosoms,  while  the  soft  side  will  iron  Marseilles  vests  and  em- 
broideries beautifully.  Over  the  whole  board  put  a  thin  cotton  or  linen  cloth, 
an  old  pillow  case  will  do,  and  baste  it  on  so  that  it  can  be  removed  when  soiled. 

A  skirt  l)oard  is  indispensable  for  ironing  dresses  and  under  skirts,  and  it  should 
be  about  five  feet  and  a  half  in  length;  eighteen  inches  in  width,  at  the  bottom, 
and  ten  inches  at  the  top,  where  it  can  be  rounded  to  three  inches.  Cover  as 
directed  for  soft  side  of  bosom  board,  and  on  the  under  side  nail  coarse  cotton, 
80  as  to  make  it  smooth  to  draw  the  skirts  over  it.  Make  a  cover  out  of  tine 
old  cotton,  and  change  as  frequently  as  it  becomes  soiled. 

In  ironing  a  shirt,  commence  at  the  neck,  and  iron  the  binding,  then  fold  the 
back  in  the  middle,  and  press  it  smoothly,  and  iron  the  sleeves  and  wristbands  ; 
then  iron  the  flaps,  leaving  the  bosom  and  collar  to  the  last.  Slip  in  the  board, 
rub  the  bosom  over  lightly  with  a  damp  cloth,  and  iron  quickly  and  hard.  A 
polishing  iron  with  round  edges  is  the  best  for  this  purpose,  and  also  for  vests, 
caps,  etc.,  because  it  leaves  no  marks  of  the  iron,  and  gives  a  better  gloss.  To  iron 
a  shirt  collar,  pass  the  iron  rapidly  over  the  wrong  side,  then  iron  the  band,  lastly 
the  right  side,  which  should  be  ironed  and  polished  until  perfectly  dry  and  stiff. 

Gentlemen's  summer  pantaloons  should  have  a  board  made  to  fit  them,  loosely, 
and  covered  like  a  skirt  board,  and  then  they  can  be  made  to  look  well.  Iron 
the  pockets  by  turning  them  on  the  outside,  before  putting  the  board  into  the 
pantaloons. 

To  iron  a  skirt  slip  the  small  end  through  by  the  gathers,  and  iron  breadth 
by  breadth.  A  large  piece  of  mosquito  netting  is  veiy  useful  to  keep  the  ironed 
clothes  free  from  dust  and  flies,  while  being  aired. 

To  Clean  Colored  Fabrics. 

Nearly  all  colored  fabrics  stain  the  water  used  to  cleanse  them,  and  that  with- 
out always  losing  their  own  brightness.  No  article  of  a  different  hue  must  be 
put  into  a  wash  or  rinse  so  stained,  but  must  have  fresh  water ;  and  no  colored 


32  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

fabric  but  black  or  blue  must  be  rinsed  in  blued  water.  Different  colors  are 
improved  by  different  substances  being  used  in  the  wash  or  rinsing  water. 
Sugar  of  lead  will  fasten  all  colors,  and  can  be  used,  whenever  they  are  likely 
to  run.  A  ten  cents'  worth  of  it  is  enough  for  four  or  five  gallons  of  water. 
Ox-gall  will  brighten  all  colors,  no  matter  what  is  the  fabric.  For  buff  and 
cream-colored  cashmeres,  etc.,  mix  in  both  waters  a  little  of  friar's-balsam.  For 
black  materials  use  aqua  ammonin  in  suds  and  rinsing  water ;  for  violet  and 
purji^le,  the  same.  For  green,  put  two  table-spoonfuls  of  vinegar  to  every  quart 
of  rinsing  water.  For  blue,  a  good  handful  of  salt  in  the  rinsing.  For  brown 
and  graj',  ox-gall.     For  white,  blue  the  water. 

To  Wash  3Iuslin  Dresses. 

Muslin  dresses  of  the  most  delicate  hues  can  be  cleaned  in  quarter  of  an  hour 
or  less,  without  losing  their  color.  I\Ielt  half  a  pound  of  bar  soap  in  a  gallon  of 
water,  by  shaving  it  up  thin,  and  empty  it  into  the  wash-tub.  Have  two  other 
tubs  of  clean  water  at  hand,  and  into  one  of  them  stir  a  quart  of  bran.  Put  the 
muslin  into  the  soap-suds,  when  the  water  is  comfortably  warm  to  the  hand, 
turn  it  about  and  squeeze  it  a  little — letting  every  part  become  well  wetted,  and 
knead  it  in  the  water  for  a  few  minutes.  Do  not  wring  it  at  all,  that  injures 
its  fabric,  but  squeeze  it  out  of  the  suds,  and  put  it  into  the  bran  water,  and 
rinse  it  np  and  down  quickly  for  a  couple  of  minutes.  Rinse  it  in  the  same 
way  in  the  clear  water.  Squeeze  it  out,  and  hang  between  two  lines,  the  neck 
of  the  waist  or  the  binding  of  the  skirt,  if  made  separately,  on  one  line,  and  the 
hem  of  one-half  of  the  skirt  on  the  other. 

A  clear,  dry  day  should  be  chosen  to  wash  muslin  dresses,  and  several  can  be 
done  at  once.  While  the  dress  dries  make  the  starch  ;  if  the  muslin  is  colored, 
use  cold  starch;  if  white,  make  it  as  for  shirt  bosoms,  stirring  it  about  with  a 
wax  candle.  Dip  the  dress  into  it ;  hang  it  again,  to  dry.  When  dry,  rinse  it 
quickly,  but  thoroughly,  in  clear  water.  Hang  it  out  to  dry  again.  Sprinkle, 
and  roll  it  tightly  in  a  towel.  Iron  with  very  hot  irons,  but  not  so  hot  as  to 
scorch.  Hot  irons  keep  the  stiffness  in  the  muslin.  Percales,  cambrics  and 
madras  suitings,  can  be  washed  in  the  same  way,  but  they  will  need  to  be 
rubbed  more  than  muslins.  The  advantages  of  thus  cleaning  colored  dresses 
are,  that  it  is  so  quickly  done  that  there  is  no  time  for  the  colors  to  run  ;  and 
the  fabrics  are  not  strained  and  worn  out.  When  sugar  of  lead  is  used,  let  the 
dress  soak  in  the  water  for  half  an  hour  or  more.  Be  careful  not  to  use  it,  if 
there  are  scratches  or  abrasions  on  your  hands. 

A  Convenient  Soap  Dish,  Etc. 

A  great  deal  of  soap  is  often  wasted  for  want  of  a  receptacle  to  hold  it,  as  the 
washerwoman  is  annoyed  by  its  slipping  from  the  sloppy  bench,  and  so  keeps  it 
in  the  tub  of  water;  and  therefore,  a  little  wooden  bowl  should  always  be  pro- 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES  33 

vided  for  it.  A  black  bottle  of  ox-gall  should  also  be  kept  in  the  laundry  for 
use  in  washing  colored  muslins  and  percales,  as  it  preserves  their  brightness. 
If  its  odor  is  disagreeable,  add  a  little  alcohol  to  it. 

Coffee  Starch. 

This  is  excellent  for  starching  dark  clothing,  and  for  men's  linen  coats  and 
pantaloons,  as  it  does  not  take  out  their  color.  Take  two  cups  of  boiling  hot, 
strong  coffee,  made  in  the  usual  way,  and  add  to  it  two  table-spoonfuls  of  the 
best  starch,  mixed  with  enough  cold  water  to  make  it  a  smooth,  soft  paste. 
While  the  coffee  is  boiling  add  the  starch,  stirring  all  the  time.  Let  it  boil  for 
about  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  give  it  a  stir  round  with  a  spermaceti  candle. 
Turn  it  into  a  pan,  and  when  nearly  cool  dip  in  the  clothing  to  be  starched.  If 
too  thick,  thin  it  with  warmish  water. 

To  Wash  Black  Woolen  Stockings. 

Wash  them  in  weak  suds  made  of  warmish  water,  to  which  is  added  a  table- 
spoonful  of  ox-gall.     Rinse  till  uo  color  runs.     Iron  on  the  wrong  side. 

To  Stiffen  Linen, 

To  starch  cuffs  and  collars  that  require  to  be  very  firm,  boil  the  starch  after 
mixing  it  with  cold  water,  to  a  smooth  consistency  ;  and  into  a  pint  of  starch 
drop  a  bit  of  w'hite  wax  half  the  size  of  a  hazel-ntit,  and  stir  in  one  tea-spoonful 
of  alcohol,  or  spirits  of  wine.  The  effect  of  the  spirit  is  to  retain  and  increase 
the  stiffness  of  the  starch,  while  the  wax  prevents  it  from  sticking  to  the 
flat-iron.  When  an  iron  sticks  to  the  starch,  rub  bar  soap  over  the  bottom 
of  it. 

Linen  collars,  cuffs  and  shirt  fronts  should  be  first  starched  with  boiled  starch, 
and  allowed  to  dry,  aud  then,  with  a  little  starch  dissolved  in  cold  water,  and 
be  left  an  hour  or  so  and  then  ironed.  There  is  a  great  art  in  mixing  starch, 
and  if  boiling  water  is  used,  it  need  not  be  boiled  only  a  few  moments.  A  lit- 
tle borax  often  gives  linen  a  good  gloss,  if  it  is  dissolved  in  the  boiling  water. 
Run  starched  clothes  through  the  wringer  to  make  the  starch  strike  into  every 
part  of  the  linen. 

To  Bleach  Lingerie  Lace  and  Embroidery. 

After  washing  and  boiling  it,  let  it  lie  all  day  in  very  strong  blue-water,  and 
at  night  lay  it  upon  the  grass.     As  it  dries,  wet  it  with  soap  and  water.     When 
white  enough,  boil  or  wash  again.     Many  laundresses  think  that  boiling  has  a 
tendency  to  yellow  lace  and  linen,  and  only  scald  the  fabric. 
3 


34  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

To  Wash  BlacJc  or  White  Prints, 

It  often  happens  that  black  percales  or  calico,  which  run  a  white  pattern  on  a 
black  ground,  will  not  bear  washing  in  the  usual  way,  as  the  spots  will  become 
reddish,  and  the  black  ground  dull.  When  the  white  clothes  are  all  taken  out 
of  the  boiler,  put  in  the  black  print  dress  and  let  it  boil  up  for  ten  minutes ; 
then  take  it  out  and  pour  over  it  enough  cold  water  to  make  it  comfortable  for 
the  hands,  and  rub  it  thoroughly.  Rinse  in  lukewarm  water  to  take  oxit  the 
suds,  and  again  in  very  blue-water.  Starch  in  coffee  starch,  run  it  through  the 
wringer,  let  it  dry,  dip  it  into  cold  water,  wring  it,  and  roll  it  in  a  towel  for  an 
hour  or  more.     Then  iron  on  the  wrong  side. 

Hoiv  to  Iron, 

Ironing  requires  patience  and  time  ;  one  cannot  iron  rapidly  and  do  the  work 
well.  There  are  ironing  machines  with  iron  rollers,  and  mangles  are  often  used 
for  large  articles,  like  sheets  and  table  cloths,  but  for  home  use  nothing  has 
been  found  to  equal  the  common  flat-iron. 

Cleanliness  is  a  decided  essential  in  the  ironing-room,  and  soiled  irons,  with 
a  greasy  stove,  can  never  give  satisfaction,  while  wood  fires  which  need  frequent 
replenishings,  are  not  as  desirable  as  coke  or  coal.  Kerosene  stoves  are  now  in- 
troduced, that  supply  every  need  to  the  laundress,  and  the  "  Florence  Oil 
Stove  "  cannot  be  too  highly  recommended,  not  only  in  the  laundry,  on  account 
of  its  model  flat-heater,  which  does  away  with  all  heat  in  the  kitchen,  and  can 
be  used  on  the  piazza  or  under  the  shade  of  trees,  but  also  for  all  work  in  the 
kitchen,  such  as  baking,  broiling  and  boiling.  Rightly  managed,  no  smoke  or 
smell  of  kero.sene  can  be  perceived. 

Ironing  blankets  should  be  thick,  and  the  ironing  sheet  clean  and  whole. 
For  ironing  embroideries,  laces,  etc.,  additional  thicknesses  of  flannel  are  re- 
quired, so  that  the  raised  portions  of  the  patterns  can  be  made  to  appear  in 
good  relief.  Articles  should  be  neither  too  damp  nor  too  dry,  so  as  to  look 
wrinkled  when  ironed ;  and  they  should  be  hung  in  a  dry,  warm  place  to  dry 
and  stiffen.     If  hung  in  the  wind,  out  of  doors,  all  the  starch  will  be  blown  out. 

How  to  Wash  Blanhets. 

Make  a  good  suds  with  bar  soap  and  water,  comfortably  warm  to  the  hand, 
and  then  pour  in  spirits  of  ammonia,  a  table-spoonful  at  a  time,  until  the  suds 
smell  strongly  of  the  ammonia,  and  turn  in  two  ounces  of  powdered  borax  dis- 
solved in  boiling  water.  Shake  all  the  dust  out  of  the  blankets,  and  then  rinse 
them  up  and  down  and  squeeze  lightly  in  the  hands,  but  do  not  rub  them;  it  is 
that  motion  which  fulls  the  wool  and  felts  it  together.  Do  not  rub  any  soap 
upon  them,  but  dip  them  well  in  the  water ;    then  rinse  in  plain  water,  warm 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  35 

to  the  hand,  not  hot.  By  folding  the  blankets  lengthwise  in  a  long,  narrow 
strip,  they  can  be  drawn  through  a  wringer,  but  should  never  be  wrung  through 
the  hands.  Then  shake  thoroughly  and  hang  out,  drawing  the  edges  and  cor- 
ners sincxjthly  together.  When  thoroughly  dry,  fold  smoothly  and  place  the 
bosom  board  over,  with  one  or  two  flat-irons  to  hold  it  down,  and  the  next 
day  they  will  be  fresh  and  sweet.  Select  a  bright,  sunny  day  for  washing  blan- 
kets, and  never  hang  them  out  in  a  rain  or  a  drizzle. 

Another  Method  of  Washing  Blankets. 

Put  two  large  tea-spoonfuls  of  borax,  powdered,  into  a  pint  bowl  of  the  best 
soft-soap,  and  mix  it  thoroughly  with  a  tub  half  full  of  cold  water.  Put  in  a 
pair  of  blankets,  and  let  them  soak  over  night.  Next  day  dip  them  up  and 
down,  and  squeeze  them,  but  do  not  rub  them,  for  that  thickens  the  wool. 
Draw  them  up  and  down  with  the  stick  used  for  boiling  clothes,  and  when  all 
the  soil  seems  removed,  squeeze  them  out  of  the  suds,  but  do  not  wring  them, 
and  put  into  a  tub  of  warmish  water — water  with  the  chill  off — and  with  the 
stick  draw  them  up  and  down.  When  the  suds  are  beaten  out,  put  into  strong 
bluing  water,  and  then  squeeze  out  as  much  as  possible.  Run  the  blankets 
through  a  wringer,  and  hang  upon  the  lines,  taking  care  to  pull  the  corners 
evenly  together.  As  the  water  drips  down  into  the  edges,  squeeze  it  out  with 
the  hands  gently. 

All  flannels  should  be  washed  with  lukewarm  water,  as  boiling  or  hot  water 
felts  the  wool  and  hardens  the  fabric.  Blankets  washed  in  this  way  will  be 
always  soft  and  fleecy,  and  last  for  years. 

Hoiv  to  Wash  Old  Flannels, 

When  flannel  has  become  yellowed  by  age,  in  order  to  whiten  it,  dissolve  a 
pound  and  a  half  of  soap  in  six  gallons  of  water,  and  add  to  it  one  table-spoon- 
ful of  spirits  of  ammonia.  Place  the  flannel  in  the  water,  stir  it  rapidly  around 
for  a  short  time,  and  rinse  it  up  and  down,  then  take  it  out  and  rinse  it  in  pure 
water. 

To  Wash  Black  and  Blue  Linens. 

When  black  or  navy  blue  linens  and  percales  are  to  be  washed,  do  not  use 
soap,  but  wash  and  pare  thinly  three  or  four  potatoes,  and  grate  them  into  soft 
lukewarm  water.  Wash  the  linens  in  this,  first  adding  a  tearspoonful  of  aqua 
ammonia.  Rinse  them  in  cold  blue-water,  made  quite  dark  colored.  They  will 
need  no  starch,  but  should  be  dried  and  ironed  on  the  wron"-  side. 

To  preserve  the  natural  color  of  ecru  and  brown  linens,  boil  a  handful  of  hay 
in  the  water,  and  use  wheat  bran  instead  of  soap. 


36  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

To  Do  Vp  Lace  Cm'tains. 

After  the  curtains  are  taken  down,  shake  and  brush  out  all  the  loose  dust,  and 
then  wash  them  at  once  in  warm  water  (not  hot)  in  which  a  little  washing  soda 
has  been  dissolved.  Wash  by  squeezing  in  the  hands  and  rinsing  up  and  down 
in  the  suds.  Lace  cannot  be  rubbed  on  a  board,  or  endure  harsh  treatment. 
If  there  are  brown  spots  rub  on  a  little  hard  soap.  Blue  the  rinsing  water,  if 
you  do  not  desire  the  now  fashionable  yellow  hue.  Make  a  thin  starch,  and 
stiffen  it  with  a  table-spoonful  of  powdered  borax.  Shake  out  the  curtains  very 
gently,  as  handling  w'ill  lessen  their  stiffness.  Lay  sheets  on  the  floor  of  an 
unoccupied  room,  and  pin  the  curtains  to  them,  at  intervals  of  two  or  three 
inches.  This  pinning  down  process,  however,  is  a  very  hard  one  for  unsupple 
knees,  and  a  pair  of  old  quilting  frames,  with  pegs  and  auger  holes  to  vary  ac- 
cording to  the  size  of  the  curtain,  will  answer  much  better.  Little  tinned  hooks 
or  catches  can  be  thickly  placed  along  the  inside  of  the  frames,  and  the  edge  of 
the  lace  fastened  to  them,  and  five  or  six  curtains  can  be  thus  dried  at  once,  in 
the  sun,  in  a  short  time,  and  they  will  look  like  new  lace.  Nottingham,  or  anj' 
other  kind  of  lace,  can  be  done  up  beautifully  by  this  method. 

To  Bemove  Stains  of  Wine  or  Fruit  From  Table  Linen. 

Stains  of  claret  wine  can  be  removed  by  rubbing  them  while  wet  with  com- 
mon salt.  Turn  the  contents  of  the  salt  cellar  directly  over  the  stain,  and  rub 
in  the  salt  with  the  finger,  until  the  redness  disappears  entirely. 

A  sure  way  of  extracting  fruit  stains  from  table  linen,  is  to  tie  up  some  cream 
of  tartar  in  the  stained  part,  so  as  to  form  a  little  bag,  then  put  the  linen  into 
cold  soap-suds,  and  let  it  boil  awhile.  Then  wash  and  rinse  well,  dry  and  iron, 
and  no  stains  will  appear. 

Another  method  is  to  mix  in  equal  quantities,  soft  soap,  slacked  lime,  and 
saleratus,  and  rub  the  stain  with  the  preparation,  and  lay  the  linen  in  the  sun, 
with  the  mixture  plastered  on.  When  it  has  lain  two  or  three  hours,  rub  it  off ; 
if  the  stain  still  appears,  apply  some  more  of  the  mixture.  When  it  cannot  be 
seen,  wash  out  the  linen  at  once,  as  it  will  decay  the  fabric. 

To  liesfore  Mildewed  Linen. 

Take  soft  soap  and  powdered  chalk  in  equal  quantities,  and  rub  all  over  the 
discolorations.     Spread  the  linen  in  the  sun  for  an  hour  or  so,  then  wash  it  off. 

Hints  Upon  Soap  Malcing. 

Soap  is  one  of  the  accessories  of  housekeeping,  which  adds  greatly  to  the 
cleanliness  of  everything  connected  with  it.  And  it  has  been  said,  with  truth, 
that  the  amount  of  soap  used  by  the  inhabitants  of  a  country,  measure  its  grade 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  37 

of  ("iviliziitinii,  for  li:il>itu:il  cleanliness  of  the  liome  and  the  person  is  surely  one 
of  its  griniti'st  influt'nces. 

Chi'iiiically  considered,  soap  is  tin*  union  of  fat,  or  oil,  with  an  alkali,  either 
potash  or  soda.  The  latter  possesses  the  cleansing  power,  but  if  used  alone,  it 
would  tend  to  destroy  the  substance ;  therefore,  the  need  of  oleaginous  matter. 
In  cities,  the  housekeeper  can  exchange  her  refuse  fat  for  excellent  soap,  but 
in  the  country  one  is  forced  to  manufacture  it,  and  w'here  wood  is  consumed  for 
fuel,  both  the  alkali  and  the  fat  are  serviceable,  and  the  ashes  are  still  of  some 
use  in  the  garden. 

Soap  making,  thei-efore,  is  one  of  the  country  arts,  and  in  every  village  there 
are  one  or  two  women,  who  go  from  house  to  house  in  the  early  Spring,  and  the 
leach  having  been  duly  arranged  a  few  days  previously,  attend  strictly  to  their 
business,  and  never  fail  to  produce  good  results. 

The  lye  is  first  boiled  in  a  large  brass  kettle,  and  the  grease  turned  into  it, 
and  then  boiled  together  until  it  is  entirely  mixed.  The  addition  of  a  pound  of 
resin  in  the  lump,  and  a  pound  of  borax,  (put  into  the  boiling  kettle,)  to  each 
barrelful  of  soap,  will  improve  it  greatly  for  all  cleansing  operations,  while  it 
will  prevent  the  soap  from  injuring  the  hands  by  the  action  of  the  lye,  which,  in 
newly  made  soap,  is  always  troublesome.  After  the  boiling  soap  is  turned  into 
the  barrel,  put  in  a  pail  of  cold  water,  and  stir  it  up  with  a  stick,  beating  it  for 
fifteen  minutes.  Add  another  j^^iilful  of  weak  lye,  taking  that  which  will  run 
from  the  leach  tubs  at  the  last,  by  pouring  in  pailfuls  of  hot  water.  Alternate 
with  a  pailful  of  cold  water,  and  one  of  weak  lye,  until  the  barrel  is  filled. 
Upon  the  amount  of  stirring  the  soap  receives  will  depend  its  whiteness,  and  the 
resin  and  borax  will  make  it  look  like  a  jelly. 

So/if  Soap   Without  Ashes, 

Twenty  pounds  of  white  potash,  and  twenty  pounds  of  clear  grease,  free  from 
bones,  will  make  thirty-two  gallons  of  soap.  Melt  the  grease,  or,  if  preferred, 
put  it  into  the  barrel  cold.  Pour  a  pail  of  boiling  water  upon  the  potash,  which 
will  melt  sooner  if  pounded  fine.  Stir  it  till  dissolved,  and  turn  it  upon  the 
grease.  Mix  a  pound  of  borax  in  a  pailful  of  boiling  water,  and  turn  upon  the 
grease.  Stir  until  it  is  all  mixed  together.  Add  cold  water  as  directed  in  the 
recipe  above. 

To  3Iake  Hard  Soajy. 

Take  six  pounds  clear,  hard  grease,  six  pounds  sal-soda,  and  three  poimds  of 
lime  in  the  lump,  with  seventeen  quarts  of  water.  Turn  the  water  over  the 
lime  and  soda,  in  a  kettle,  and  let  them  come  to  a  boil,  on  tlie  fire — then  place 
the  kettle  away  until  the  next  day. 

Put  the  grease  in  a  kettle,  and  pour  the  clear  lye  over  it,  stopping  as  soon  as  the 
sediments  mix  with  it.  Boil  it  until  it  thickens  like  syi-up.  stirring  constantly. 
Just  before  you  take  it  off,  throw  in  a  large  handful  of  kitchen  salt  (fine). 


38  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

"When  it  is  dissolved  turn  the  soap  into  a  tub  and  stir  it  until  it  begins  to  har- 
den somewhat.     Then  cut  it  into  bars. 

If  you  would  like  to  make  it  very  nice,  add  half  a  pound  of  powdered  borax 
to  the  grease  before  the  cold  lye  is  poured  on  to  it.  U'his  recipe  will  make 
excellent  soap  for  all  washing  purposes;  woolens,  calicoes,  etc.,  can  all  be  cleaned 
with  it  without  injury  to  the  fabric. 

To  3Ialxe  rure  White  Soap. 

Take  twenty  pounds  of  washing  soda  and  put  it  in  a  barrel,  with  a  few  small 
lumps  of  quicklime  upon  it.  Pour  over  it  three  gallons  of  boiling  water,  and 
let  the  lye  leach  out  of  holes  made  in  the  bottom  of  the  barrel — having  placed  a 
layer  of  straw  under  the  sal-soda,  to  act  as  a  filter  to  the  lye.  To  every  gallon 
of  this  lye  add  eight  pounds  of  clear,  white  grease,  and  boil  it  gently  for  three 
or  four  hours,  or  until  it  is  completely  saponified,  which  can  easily  be  tested  by 
putting  a  flat  bladed  knife  into  the  boiling  mass.  If  it  adheres  closely  the  soap 
has  boiled  long  enough.  Stir  it  frequently,  and  add  a  large  handful  of  fine 
salt.  Add  half  a  pound  of  borax  to  each  eight  pounds  of  grease.  Turn  out 
into  a  wooden  box  and  cut  in  bars,  when  sufficiently  cool.  It  is  excellent  for 
all  purposes. 

Useful  Soap  for  Scriihhing,  etc. 

Take  two  pounds  of  common  yellow  or  white  bar  soap,  shave  it  in  very  thin 
slices,  and  add  to  it  two  ounces  of  powdered  borax,  and  two  quarts  of  cold  water ; 
put  it  in  a  tin  pail  or  in  an  earthen  jar,  and  set  it  on  the  back  of  the  stove  until 
it  is  well  dissolved  ;  stirring  it  frequently.  A  very  little  heat  is  needed  to  make  it 
liquid,  and  when  thoroughly  mixed  together  it  can  be  taken  from  the  fire,  and 
when  cooled  it  will  be  of  the  consistency  of  a  thick  jelly.  A  piece  an  inch 
square  will  make  a  lather  for  a  gallon  of  water. 

It  is  invaluable  for  scrubbing  and  cleaning  floors,  washing  dishes,  and  for  all 
household  purposes. 

An  Excellent  Shaving  Soaj). 

Shave  fine  three  pounds  of  the  best  white  bar  soap,  add  to  it  three-fourths  of 
a  pint  of  soft  water,  and  one  pound  of  palm  oil.  Melt  it  in  an  earthen  bowl  or 
tin  pail,  placed  in  a  kettle  of  boiling  water.  Stir  it  well  together ;  then  add 
sixty  drops  of  oil  of  lavender,  and  ten  drops  oil  of  neroli.  These  will  perfume 
it  deliciously.  Stir  well  and  turn  it  into  a  shallow  pan  of  wood  or  tin,  then 
cut  it  into  squares  as  soon  as  it  hardens  sufficiently. 

To  3IaJce  Soap-Balls. 

Shave  thin  two  pounds  of  white  bar  soap  into  lialf  a  pint  of  boiling  water. 
When  molted  add  to  it  one  pint  of  olive  oil,  half  a  pound  of  spermaceti,  half  an 
ounce  of  oil  of  almonds,  half  an  ounce  of  powdered  camphoi',  half  a  pint  of  rose 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  39 

water,  a  table-spoonful  of  alcohol,  and  twenty  drops  of  essence  of  lavender. 
Stir  it  all  together,  let  it  boil  ten  minutes,  pour  it  out  into  a  tin  basin  until 
thick  enough  to  roll  up  into  hard  balls,  which  must  be  done  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible. Stir  in  the  essence  after  you  have  taken  it  from  the  fire,  for  it  will  lose 
its  strength  greatly  if  put  in  while  boiling  hot. 

To  Make  Meal  Honey  Soap, 

Cut  two  pounds  of  common  bar  soap  into  thin  shavings,  and  put  it  into  a  tin 
pail,  with  barely  hot  water  enough  to  cover  it.  Place  the  pail  into  a  kettle  of 
boiling  water,  and  when  its  contents  are  melted,  stir  them  thoroughly,  and  add  a 
quarter  of  a  pound  of  honey  and  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  almond  oil,  and  a 
quarter  of  a  pound  of  powdered  borax.  Mix  all  together  by  stirring  well  for  ten 
minutes.  Then  add  oil  of  cinnamon,  a  few  drops,  or  oil  of  bergamot,  or  any 
scent  which  is  preferred.  Mix  it  well,  and  turn  the  soap  into  a  deep  dish  to  cool, 
then  cut  into  squares.  It  can  be  used  at  once,  but  improves  by  age.  It  can  be 
made  into  sand  soap  balls,  by  adding  etjual  quantities  of  white  sand  and  Indian 
meal,  until  it  is  so  stiff  that  you  can  roll  it  in  the  hands.  There  is  no  soap  that 
will  whiten  the  hands  like  this. 

Soiv  to  Mend  Broken  Cliina, 

"When  a  dish  is  broken  do  not  let  the  pieces  lie  about  where  they  will  become 
soiled,  but  put  them  in  a  drawer,  or  mend  them  at  once ;  for  the  best  cements 
often  refuse  to  hold  because  the  parts  united  were  not  clean. 

Make  the  layer  of  cement  as  thin  as  it  can  possibly  be,  and  yet  let  it  cover 
every  particle  of  the  edge,  for  a  thin  layer  is  stronger  than  a  thick  one.  When 
the  form  of  the  pieces  will  admit  of  it,  rub  them  together  slightly  before  fixing 
in  place,  so  as  to  cover  every  particle  of  space.  Press  very  tightly  together,  and 
tie  the  parts  together  until  the  cement  is  dry.  Those  cements  that  are  applied 
hot  will  harden  the  quickest,  and  it  is  a  good  plan  to  warm  the  pieces  also. 

Cracked  crockery  can  be  made  strong  by  putting  it  into  cold,  skimmed  sweet 
milk  and  letting  it  boil  for  an  hour  or  more.  Tie  the  parts  together  before  you 
put  them  in,  and  let  them  remain  so  for  a  week,  and  they  will  last  a  great 
while. 

A  great  deal  can  be  saved  by  taking  heed  to  these  little  things,  and  if  you 
have  not  the  time  to  do  it,  and  can  better  afford  to  purchase  new,  give  them  to 
some  poor  neighbor  who  will  be  thankful  for  the  opportunity  to  mend  them, 
and  add  to  her  small  store  of  crockery  and  glass. 

Water-Proof  Cement  for  Aquariums. 

Take  four  ounces  of  glue,  and  two  ounces  of  isinglass,  put  in  a  common 
glue  or  small  kettle.  Pour  over  them  enough  ale,  or  stale  beer,  to  cover  well. 
When  it  is  well  dissolved  and  mixed  together,  add  one  and  a  half  ounces  of 


40  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

boiled  linseed  oil,  stirring  it  in  by  a  few  drops  at  a  time.  AVhen  cold,  it  looks 
like  India  rubber,  and  can  be  kept  in  a  cake,  and  when  needed,  dissolved  in  a 
little  boiling  hot  stale  beer.  It  will  mend  f  urnitm-e  of  all  kinds,  and  is,  also, 
excellent  for  joining  bands  for  machinery,  and  to  mend  harnesses.  But  the 
cement  must  always  be  applied  boiling  hot,  and  allowed  to  dry  thoroughly.  By 
dipping  a  twist  of  tow  into  the  cement,  you  can  mend  leaks  in  roofs,  barrels, 
and  the  like. 

Biirgartlieu's  Paste  Glue. 

M.  Burgardien,  of  the  Museum  of  Narbonne,  has  given  his  name  to  a  cement 
of  great  value,  which  is,  however,  nothing  more  than  silicate  of  potassa.  It  can 
be  used  to  join  or  solder  together  various  broken  things,  such  as  iron,  blocks  of 
stone,  marble,  or  wood,  of  the  largest  size,  or  the  most  delicate  fragments  of 
glass,  statuary,  vases,  mosaics,  pottery,  and  furniture,  in  short,  almost  anything 
can  be  mended  with  its  aid.  With  a  small  brush  spread  the  silicate  of  liquid 
potassa  over  the  surfaces  to  be  joined,  then  press  them  together  as  closely  as 
possible.  After  being  held  or  fastened  in  this  position  for  a  short  time,  they 
will  be  firmly  cemented,  and  we  may  strike  them  hard  without  separating  them. 
Neither  fire,  water,  nor  cold,  affects  this  artificial  adhesion. 

Lime  and  Egg  Cement, 

This  is  made  by  moistening  the  edges  of  broken  glass  or  crockery  ware,  with 
the  white  of  an  egg,  not  beaten,  and  dusting  on  some  lime  from  a  little  muslin 
bag  filled  with  air  slacked  lime,  ©r  a  surer  method  is  to  slack  a  fresh  bit  of 
lime  in  a  small  quantity  of  boiling  water.  Tlien  beat  the  white  of  an  egg  with 
a  table-spoonful  of  water,  and  sift  in  enough  lime  to  form  a  thin  paste,  which 
must  be  used  at  once,  as  it  hardens  quickly.  This  is  a  valuable  cement  as  it 
resists  heat  and  water. 

Wlute  Lead  for  Mending  Glass  and  Crockery. 

White  lead,  such  as  comes  in  small  tin  boxes,  is  also  excellent  for  mending 
all  kinds  of  ware,  excepting  iron,  tin  and  wood.  Take  it  out  with  a  match  or 
a  small  splinter  of  wood,  and  smear  both  edges  of  the  pieces,  then  join  them 
firmly,  and  tie  together  with  twine  to  hold  the  pieces  firmly,  until  the  lead 
hardens.  It  may  take  a  week  before  it  will  be  fit  to  use.  A  small  bit  of  nar- 
row white  braid  or  tape,  put  on  the  outside  or  inside  of  the  break,  helps  to  hold 
it  closer. 

To  Make  Liquid  Glue. 

Dissolve  one-quarter  of  a  pound  of  gum-shellac  in  three  ounces  of  naphtha. 
Put  the  shellac  into  a  wide-mouthed  bottle,  and  pour  the  naphtha  upon  it.  Ask 
the  druggist  where  you  purchase  the  naphtha,  to  pour  it  in.     Keep  the  bottle 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  41 

closely  corked,  l>ut  stii-  it  up  tlirco  or  four  times  iu  the  first  forty-oight  hours. 
When  tlie  sliellac  is  thoroughly  dissolvetl,  the  glue  is  ready  for  use,  and  it  forms 
a  very  strong  cement  for  all  kinds  of  furniture. 

Mice  Flour  Cement. 

Mix  four  table-spoonfuls  of  rice  flour  with  just  enough  cold  water  to  make  a 
thin  batter.  Sinuner  it  gently  over  the  stove,  and  it  will  form  a  durable  and 
delicate  cement  for  joining  paper  or  card  boxes  as  baskets,  which  now  afford 
both  employment  and  amusement  to  ladies. 

If  made  thick  as  plaster,  it  can  be  formed  into  busts  and  models  of  all  kinds, 
which,  when  thoroughly  dry,  can  be  jiolished  highly,  by  rubbing  with  a  piece  of 
chamois  leather. 

Cement  for  Glasses,  Etc, 

Place  in  a  large-mouthed  bottle  two  ounces  of  isinglass,  shreded  finely,  and 
two  ounces  of  gum  arable  powdered.  Pour  over  them  enough  alcohol,  of  high- 
est proof,  to  cover  them.  Put  the  cork  iu  lightly,  and  place  the  bottle  in  a 
sauce-pan,  and  boil  it  until  the  gum  and  isinglass  are  entirely  dissolved.  Stir 
it  from  time  to  time  with  a  little  stick.  Put  a  brush  through  the  cork,  and  use 
for  preparing  microscopic  objects,  or  for  mending  glass  ware.  It  also  makes  an 
excellent  mucilage. 

IIoiv  to  Make  a  Fire  and  Water-Proof  Cement, 

Turn  half  a  pint  of  vinegar  into  half  a  pint  of  milk.  Let  the  ciu'd  form,  and 
strain  off  the  whc}^  Add  to  it  the  whites  of  five  eggs,  and  beat  it  with  an  egg 
beater  for  ten  minutes.  Stir  into  it  powdered  quicklime,  just  slacked  enough  to 
powder  fine,  until  it  is  a  thick  paste.  Keep  it  tightly  corked  from  the  air. 
Broken  dishes,  etc.,  mended  with  this  cement,  will  resist  the  action  of  both  fire 
and  water,  and  will  rarely,  if  ever,  separate  in  the  same  place. 

Prepared  Glue  for  Constant  Use. 

To  any  quantity  of  glue  use  common  whiskey  or  alcohol  instead  of  water. 
Put  the  bits  of  glue,  well  broken  up,  into  a  bottle  ;  fill  up  with  the  spirit  and 
set  it  in  a  closet  or  where  it  is  warm  for  a  week,  then  it  will  be  ready  to  use 
without  the  application  of  heat. 

Glue  thus  prepared  will  keep  for  years,  and  will  be  fit  for  use  at  all  times, 
unless  the  weather  is  very  cold,  then  place  the  bottle  in  boiling  water  for  a 
few  moments.  To  obviate  the  difficulty  of  the  stopper  becoming  tight  from 
the  glue,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  make  the  glue  in  a  tin  box,  and  the  cover  will 
fit  on  tightly  without  sticking.  It  must  be  closed  tight  or  the  spirit  will  evap- 
orate. 


42  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

To  Make  Mouth  Glue. 

This  is  made  by  dissolving  pure  glue  with  one  quarter  of  its  weight  in  coarse, 
brown  sugar,  and  in  as  small  a  quantity  of  boiling  water  as  possible.  "When  it 
is  perfectly  liquid,  turn  it  into  a  shallow  tin  pan,  having  oiled  it  a  little  with 
butter.  As  it  stiffens,  cut  it  into  small  squares.  Wheu  required  for  use,  mois- 
ten one  end  with  the  mouth.  It  will  be  found  very  convenient  in  a  lady's  work 
box  or  desk. 

Little  Tilings  Worth  Knowing — How  to  Jtehake  Stale  JBread. 

Soak  a  stale  loaf  of  bread  or  some  rolls  in  water  for  a  moment  or  two,  and 
then  rebake  for  more  than  half  an  hour,  and  they  will  be  in  every  respect  equal 
to  newly  baked  bread. 

To  Furify  the  House. 

For  purification  of  the  air  in  stale  rooms,  mix  one  pound  of  the  chloride  of 
lime  in  eight  gallons  of  water.  Shake  it  before  using,  and  throw  a  quart  of  it 
daily  down  the  pipes  in  bathing-rooms  and  kitchens,  and  put  dishes  of  it  in  the 
rooms. 

To  Preserve  the  Color  of  a  Print  Dress. 

Wash  in  lukewarm  water  with  a  little  hard  soap,  but  make  the  suds  before 
the  dress  is  put  in.  Add  one  table-spoonful  of  borax  and  one  of  common  salt 
to  the  lukewarm  rinsing  water.  Wring  tightly  and  roU  up  in  a  coarse  towel  or 
piece  of  a  sheet,  until  dry  enough  to  iron. 

To  Destroy  Flies. 

Boil  the  parings  of  potatoes  in  a  little  water  for  an  hour,  skim  them  out,  and 
boil  the  water  down  to  a  few  table-spoonfuls.  Sweeten  with  molasses,  and  turn 
on  to  plates.  It  is  a  deadly  poison.  Another  method  is  to  boil  quassia  chips 
to  a  strong  decoction,  sweeten  and  proceed  as  above. 

To  Remove  Egg  Stains  Front  Silver  Sjmons. 

When  eggs  are  eaten  frequently  the  silver  spoons  become  discolored  because 
of  the  sulphur  the  eggs  contain,  which,  uniting  with  the  silver,  form  sulphurate. 
The  quickest  and  the  best  way  to  remove  the  stain,  is  to  rub  the  spoon  with  fine 
salt,  between  the  thumb  and  finger,  and  then  wash  in  soap-suds. 

To  Remove  Freckles. 

Take  one  ounce  of  lemon  juice,  a  quarter  of  a  drachm  of  powdered  borax,  and 
half  a  drachm  of  sugar.  IMix  and  lot  them  stand  in  a  glass  bottle  for  a  few 
days,  then  rub  it  on  the  face  and  hands  night  and  morning.  Two  table-spoon- 
fuls of  lemon  juice  would  equal  an  ounce. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  43 

Hair  Wash  to  Cleanse  the  Scalj), 

Add  six  drops  of  aqua  ammonia  to  a  wine-glass  of  wann  water,  and  with  a 
small  bit  of  sponge  or  tlannel  wash  the  head  thoroughly,  dividing  the  hair  into 
jiartings,  so  that  all  the  skin  is  wetted.  This  not  only  cleanses  the  scalp  quickly, 
but  also  preserves  the  color  of  the  hair.  It  can  be  applied  once  a  week,  before 
going  to  bed,  with  very  good  effect. 

To  lieniove  Pini^tles  from  the  Face, 

These  unsightly  excrescences  arise  from  eating  fat  meats  and  other  articles 
of  food  which  produce  indigestion  ;  and  it  will  require  some  little  amount  of 
self-denial  at  the  table  to  remove  them,  and  the  sufferer  should  never  indulge 
in  late  suppers,  and  should  take  as  much  outdoor  exercise  as  possible.  A  small 
pinch  of  tlour  of  sulphur  dissolved  in  a  gill  of  milk,  and  taken  every  morning, 
is  an  efficacious  remedy,  but  it  will  take  some  little  time  to  produce  the  desired 
effect.     Keep  your  feet  dry,  and  avoid  the  damp  while  taking  the  sulphur. 

To  Take  Fresh  Faint  Out  of  a  Coat. 

Take  a  piece  of  broadcloth,  and  rub  the  wrong  side  of  it  on  the  paint;  if  no 
other  cloth  is  at  hand,  part  of  the  inside  of  the  coat  skirt  will  do.  This  simple 
application  will  usually  remove  paint  that  is  quite  fresh.  If  it  has  hardened 
rub  it  out  with  a  little  chloroform  on  a  silk  or  woolen  rag.  This  will  also  take 
paint  out  of  the  finest  fabrics  of  silk  or  woolen. 

To  Wash  Silk  Stockings. 

Take  lukewarm  water  and  add  to  it  half  a  tea-spoonful  of  spirits  of  ammonia, 
or  a  small  bit  of  carbonate  of  ammonia.  Mix  a  little  white  bar  soap  with  the 
water,  and  wash  the  stockings  clean.  Rinse  them  in  lukewarm  water  made 
quite  blue.  Dry  in  a  warm  place  quickly.  Silk  handkerchiefs  can  be  washed 
in  the  same  way. 

To  Bleach  a  Faded  I>ress. 

Wash  the  dress  in  very  hot,  strong  suds,  and  then  boil  it  until  the  color  has 
disappeared.  Rinse  it  in  bluing  water,  and  dry  in  the  sun.  Should  it  not  be 
quite  white,  let  it  lie  in  the  sun,  on  the  grass,  for  several  days. 

To  Black  a  Brick  Hearth. 

Mix  some  black  lead  with  a  little  soft  soap  and  water,  boil  it,  and  put  it  on 
with  a  scrubbing  brush.     The  soap  affiles  the  lead. 


44  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

How  to  Vent  Hate  a  Chaniher. 

For  ventilation,  open  your  windows  both  at  top  and  bottom.  The  fresh 
air  rushes  in  at  the  bottom,  and  the  foul  air  makes  its  exit  at  the  top.  Thus 
j-ou  can  let  in  a  friend  and  expel  an  enemy. 

To  Hejidiv  Towels. 

When  chamber  and  kitchen  towels  are  thin  in  the  middle,  cut  them  in  two 
and  sew  the  selvages  together  and  hem  the  sides. 

To  Remove  Grease  Spots  from  Books, 

Scrape  some  French  chalk,  or  take  some  powdered  whiting,  and  lay  as  much 
on  the  grease  spot,  both  sides  of  the  paper,  as  will  cover  it.  Then  press  a 
moderately  hot  flat-iron  on  the  spot,  covering  the  powder  with  a  small  piece  of 
blotting  or  common  brown  paper.  The  heat  will  dissolve  the  grease,  and  mix 
itself  with  the  chalk.     If  it  does  not  come  out  the  first  time  repeat  the  process. 

To  jRestore  Plated  Goods. 

Moisten  a  little  common  whiting  with  some  nitrate  of  silver,  sufficiently  to 
make  a  paste,  and  rub  it  on  the  worn  places  with  a  soft  brush — polish  with 
leather.    You  can  have  the  articles  electroplated  at  a  moderate  price. 

To  Wash  Tliread  Lace. 

Rip  off  the  lace  carefully,  and  pick  out  the  loose  bits  of  thread  and  roll  it 
very  smoothly  and  securely  around  a  champagne  or  black  glass  bottle  that  has 
been  closely  covered  with  white  linen.  Fasten  each  end  of  the  lace,  and  take 
care  not  to  crumple  or  fold  in  any  of  the  scallops  or  pearlings.  If  it  is  very  yel- 
low and  soiled,  wet  the  lace  with  a  bit  of  sponge  dipped  into  olive  oil.  Then 
cover  it  with  a  soft  linen  cloth  wrapped  around  it.  Fill  the  bottle  with  cold 
water,  and  put  it  into  a  small  kettle  filled  with  a  strong  lather  of  cold  water  and 
white  soda  soap.  Let  it  stand  upright  in  the  suds,  and  boil  for  an  hour  or  so. 
Drain  off  the  suds  and  remove  the  coverings,  and  rinse  the  lace  in  cold  water. 
Let  it  dry  on  the  bottle,  and  when  you  take  it  off  press  it  in  a  sheet  of  paper 
placed  between  the  leaves  of  a  large  book. 

How  to  Buy  Gloves. 

Xothing  looks  worse  than  shabby  gloves,  and  as  they  are  expensive  articles  of 
dress,  they  require  a  little  management  in  purchasing.  Do  not  wear  a  new  pair 
to  church  in  the  evening;  the  warmth  of  the  gas,  etc.,  gives  a  moisture  to  the 
hands,  and  spoils  them.  Wear  an  old  pair  in  wet  weather,  as  drops  of  rain  will 
injure  them,  and  carrying  an  umbrella  soils  them.  It  is  the  poorest  economy  to 
buy  cheap  gloves,  as  they  never  wear  well. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  45 

To  Jixtract  Grease  Spots  From  Silk. 

Lay  tlio  {grease  spot  upon  a  thick  sheet  of  blotting  or  brown  paper ;  place  an- 
other piece  of  the  same  jtaper  over  the  spot,  and  press  a  moderately  warm  flat- 
iron  over  it  for  a  minute  or  so,  till  the  stain  disappears.  Rub  the  stained  part 
with  a  bit  of  soft  silk  or  flannel. 

I'o  Restore  Crape. 

AVheu  a  drop  of  water  falls  on  a  black  crape  veil  or  dress,  it  leaves  a  white 
mark.  To  take  it  out,  spread  the  crape  on  the  table,  laying  a  book  upon  it  to 
hold  it  in  place.  Put  an  old  piece  of  black  silk  underneath  it,  then  dip  a  cam- 
el's hair  pencil  into  the  inkstand,  and  rub  over  the  mark ;  gently  wipe  it  dry  at 
once  with  a  bit  of  silk. 

Sachet  I*ow(lers  for  Perfuming  Desks  and  Bureaus. 

Xo.  1.  Half  an  ounce  of  on-is  root  powdered,  four  drops  otto  of  rose,  one  and 
a  half  ounces  of  powdered  starch. 

Xo.  2.  Two  ounces  of  orris  root  powdered,  ten  drops  of  essence  of  ambergris, 
four  drops  of  oil  of  neroli. 

Xo.  3.  Gum  benzoin,  half  a  drachm;  musk,  two  grains;  ambergris,  four 
grains;  storax,  half  a  drachm;  one  ounce  powdered  cloves;  half  an  ounce  of 
powdered  orange  peel. 

Mix  each  recipe  separately,  and  put  in  cotton  wool  and  keep  in  desk  or  bu- 
reau drawers. 

To  Extract  Ink  from  Malio<jany. 

Dilute  half  a  tea-spoonful  of  oil  of  vitriol  with  a  large  siwonful  of  water,  and 
apply  to  the  ink  spot  with  a  feather.  Let  it  remain  wet  for  a  minute  or  so,  and 
rub  off  quickly  with  a  bit  of  old  silk  or  flannel.  If  not  removed  repeat,  but  if 
allowed  to  remain  too  long,  it  will  make  a  white  spot. 

To  Remove  Ink  Stains. 

Procure  a  two-ounce  bottle,  and  put  into  it  five  cents' worth  of  oxalic  acid,  and 
fill  it  up  with  warm  water.  Put  a  bit  of  linen  rag  over  the  stain,  and  pour  a 
few  drops  of  it  upon  the  cloth.  It  ought  to  take  out  the  stain  at  once ;  if  not, 
rub  it  gently  with  the  dampened  cloth.  If  there  was  logwood  in  the  ink  it  will, 
however,  leave  a  reddish  stain,  but  rub  it  with  a  little  chloride  of  lime  dissolved 
in  water,  and  it  will  disappear. 

To  Mend  Sheets  and  Shirts. 

In  mending  sheets  and  shirts,  always  put  on  pieces  sufficiently  large  to  cover 
not  only  the  rent,  but  the  thin  spots  surrounding  it.     If  you  neglect  to  do  so, 


46  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  . 

the  first  washing  will  show  your  mistake,  as  the  thin  parts  will  give  way  from 
the  weight  of  the  new  cloth. 

A  Wire  Fire-Guard, 

A  wire  fire-guard  for  each  fireplace  costs  but  little,  yet  greatly  diminishes  the 
risks  to  life  and  property  by  fire. 

To  Polish  Patent  Leather  Boots. 

Mix  a  tablo-spoonful  of  sweet  oil  with  a  tea-spoonful  of  turpentine,  and  rub  it 
over  the  boots  with  a  bit  of  sponge ;  then  polish  with  a  soft  rag.  If  there  are 
any  cracks  in  the  leather,  fill  them  up  with  common  boot  blacking  before  you 
use  the  sweet  oil  and  turpentine.  In  fact,  any  furniture  polish  will  do  to  polish 
this  kind  of  leather,  and  it  will  render  them  more  lasting,  as  well  as  give  them 
a  good  polish. 

To  take  a  tight  Ming  from  the  Finger, 

If  the  finger  on  which  the  ring  is  placed  has  become  too  large,  or  is  swollen, 
pass  a  needle  with  some  soft  thread  in  the  eye,  under  the  ring,  and  pull  one  end 
of  the  cotton  upwards  with  the  hand,  while  yoa  twist  the  remaining  cotton 
around  the  finger  several  times,  until  it  reaches  the  nail.  Then  pull  on  the 
other  thread,  and  it  is  usually  an  easy  matter  to  slide  the  ring  off  the  finger,  no 
matter  how  difficult  it  has  been  before  the  experiment  was  tried. 

To  Prevent  Discolorations  of  the  SJcln  after  a  Blow. 

Take  a  little  dry  starch  or  arrow  root,  and  merely  moisten  it  with  cold  water, 
and  lay  it  on  the  injured  part.  Do  it  at  once,  so  as  to  prevent  the  air  from 
touching  the  spot,  and  no  sign  of  it  will  be  seen.  It  can  also  be  applied  hours 
afterwards  with  decided  effect,  but  will  not  prevent  it  wholly. 

To  Beniove  Grease  Simts  from  Carpets,  Table  Cloths,  Dresses 
and  Furniture. 

Heat  the  poker  red-hot  and  hold  it  over  the  grease  spot  within  an  inch  of  the 
material.  In  a  moment  or  two  the  grease  will  disappear.  Be  sure  not  to  place 
the  poker  so  near  as  to  scorch  the  grease  spot.  It  needs  a  steady  hand  to  hold 
it,  and,  if  possible,  apply  a  hot  flat-iron  over  several  sheets  of  brown  paper. 

Polishing  Paste  for  Tins  and  Britannia  Ware  and  Brass, 

Powder  some  rotten  stone  very  fine.  Mix  it  with  some  soft  soap  until  it  is  a 
stiff  paste.  Add  to  half  a  pound  of  the  paste  two  ounces  of  oil  of  turpentine. 
It  can  be  made  up  in  balls,  and  it  will  soon  harden  and  keep  any  length  of  time. 
When  using  it,  mix  a  small  piece  with  water  and  rub  over  the  articles  with  a 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  47 

■\voolen  cloth ;  afterwards  rub  off  with  a  dry  cloth,  and  polish  with  newspapers. 
Wash  all  articles  to  be  cleaned,  first,  with  soap-suds,  and  apply  the  paste  while 
damp. 

To  make  Imitation  Bed,  Uliite  or  Blade  Coral  Frames. 

To  every  ounce  of  clear  resin  dissolved  in  a  tin  basin,  add  two  drachms  of 
English  vermilion,  well  mixed  together.  Keep  it  in  a  liquid  state  over  the  fire, 
and  dip  into  it  little  twigs  and  branches  from  which  the  bark  has  been  peeled. 
Or  dip  in  the  small  branches  of  the  Norway  pine  and  spruce.  Or  you  can  paint 
the  branches  all  over  with  the  composition.  Then  hold  them  over  a  gentle  fire 
until  all  are  smooth  and  even  as  if  polished.  In  the  same  way  white  coral  can 
be  imitated,  by  adding  white  lead  to  the  resin  in  the  same  proportion,  and  black 
coral  by  adding  lamp-black. 

A  Wash  to  fix  Pencil  Draivings, 

One  part  isinglass  to  fifty  parts  water ;  melt  over  the  fire,  and  strain  through 
muslin ;  apply  by  dipping  the  drawing  into  it,  and  pinning  on  the  wall  to  dry. 
Another  method  is'  to  dip  the  drawing  into  a  pan  of  skimmed  milk ;  take  it  by 
the  corners  and  lift  it  out  carefully,  and  place  on  a  slanting  surface  to  drain  and 
dry.  This  will  also  affix  chalk  drawings.  Still  another  method  is  to  hold  the 
drawing  over  the  steam  of  the  tea-kettle,  and  as  it  rolls  up  with  the  heat,  reverse 
it  and  steam  the  back.  Repeat  this  for  two  or  three  minutes.  It  can  be  washed 
afterwards  with  the  thia  size  or  the  milk,  and  when  nearly  dry  press  it  between 
two  flat  surfaces. 

To  Ventilate  the  Cellar  and  Keep  Atvay  Frost, 

Whenever  the  temperature  is  above  32°,  open  the  outside  doors  and  let  in  a 
current  of  fresh  air,  and  soon  you  will  see  the  benefit  of  it  in  the  increased 
health  of  your  family,  and  in  the  purity  of  the  air  of  the  house,  while  your  fruit 
and  vegetables  will  keep  better.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  keep  a  thermometer  in  the 
cellar,  and  whenever  it  rises  above  45°,  open  the  doors  and  let  them  remain 
open  an  hour  or  so.  Do  this  at  noon  time,  when  the  air  is  warmest,  and  on  a 
bright,  sunny  daj'.  If  there  is  a  furnace  in  the  cellar,  it  will  need  ventilating 
oftener,  because  its  warmth  consumes  the  air  and  makes  it  stale,  and  the 
doors  can  be  left  open  from  eleven  to  three  o'clock,  three  or  four  times  a  week, 
if  the  outside  air  is  not  very  cold.  When  there  is  danger  of  frost  in  a  cellar, 
carry  down  several  pails  of  hot  water  and  sprinkle  all  over  the  floor  just  before 
retiring  for  the  night,  and,  even  if  it  forms  into  ice,  there  will  be  less  dan- 
ger of  freezing  fruit  and  vegetables,  for  water,  in  freezing,  takes  the  frost 
out  of  the  air.  Often  a  cistern  will  freeze  over,  when  potatoes  will  receive  no 
injury. 


48  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

How  to  Prepare  Tracing  Paper. 

Tracing  paper  of  the  best  quality  can  be  made  by  painting  over  fine  tissue 
paper  with  equal  parts  of  oil  of  turpentine  and  mastic  varnish.  To  make  it, 
the  tissue  paper  should  be  spread  out  perfectly  flat  on  a  level  surface,  and  the 
liquid  applied  carefully  over  its  surface  with  a  soft  brush.  While  doing  this, 
care  should  be  taken  that  every  part  of  the  paper  should  be  completely  covered, 
and  that  no  more  varnish  is  applied  to  one  part  of  the  paper  than  another. 
When  the  tissue  paper  is  finished,  hang  it  to  dry  on  a  string  stretched  across 
the  room.  During  the  drying,  keep  the  room  at  a  good  heat,  and  perfectly  free 
from  dust.  In  a  hot  day,  hang  the  paper  out  of  doors  in  the  sun.  If  it  is  de- 
sirable to  paint  in  water-colors  on  the  transparent  paper,  it  can  be  brushed  over 
with  a  solution  of  purified  ox-gall.  '^ 

Hoiv  to  Mender  Paper  Transparent. 

One  part  of  castor-oil  dissolved  in  two  or  three  parts  of  spirits  of  wine,  will 
make  paper  transparent,  and  as  the  spirit  evaporates  quickly,  the  paper  will 
become  fit  for  use  in  a  short  time.  A  drawing  in  pencil  or  India  ink  can  thus 
be  made,  and  if  the  paper  is  then  placed  in  spirits  of  wine,  the  oil  will  disap- 
pear, and  the  paper  become  opaque. 

Syinxtathetic  TnJcs  for  Postal  Cards. 

If  a  weak  solution  of  sulphuric  acid  (oil  of  vitriol)  is  used  in  writing,  it  will 
be  invisible  when  dry,  and  will  remain  so  until  the  card  is  held  before  the  fire, 
when  the  letters  will  turn  a  brownish  black  and  can  be  easily  read.  The  reason 
is,  that  diluted  oil  of  vitriol  has  no  action  on  paper,  but  when  exposed  to  heat 
some  of  the  water  is  driven  out,  and  the  acid  at  once  chars  the  paper.  Another 
way  is  to  write  with  a  colorless  solution  of  suli)liate  of  iron  (green  copperas),  or 
sulphate  of  copper  (blue  copperas).  When  dry,  this  writing  will  also  be  invis- 
ible, but  if  dipped  into  a  solution  of  prussiate  of  potash  it  can  be  read  easily. 
In  the  case  of  the  iron  the  writing  will  present  a  blue  tint ;  in  that  of  the  cop- 
per a  brown.  Another  method  consists  in  writing  with  a  colorless  solution  of 
the  nitrate  of  lead ;  when  dry,  nothing  can  be  seen  on  the  card,  but  if  it  is  ex- 
posed to  the  vapor  of  liyposulphate  of  ammonia,  the  line^  will  at  once  turn  a  deep 
black,  because  of  the  formation  of  sulphuret  of  lead. 

A  Use  for  Old  Corks. 

Old  corks  are  usually  considered  useless,  but  a  proposal  has  been  made  that 
they  sliould  be  preserved  and  sent  to  some  central  place,  where  they  could  be 
made  useful  in  manufacturing  cork  belts,  jackets,  and  the  like,  for  saving  life 
in  shipwrecks.  The  corks  could  be  sewn  into  some  water-proof  cloth,  and  really 
made  of  essential  service.     These  of  our  readers  who  contemplate  a  sea  voyage, 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  49 

can  avail  themselves  of  the  hint,  and  manufacture  life-buoys  by  quilting  corks 
into  cloth,  and  sewing  on  strings  to  attach  it  to  the  body. 

To  Disinfect  Clothing  ht/  Sulphur. 

To  disinfect  clothing,  sponge  or  sprinkle  it  lightly  with  water  and  milk  of 
sulphur,  in  the  proportion  of  a  tea-spoonful  to  a  pint  of  water,  and  then  iron  it 
with  a  flat-iron  hot  enough  to  volatilize  the  sulphur,  without  scorching  the 
clothing. 

Sponge  Boot  JBlacking, 

Mix  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  ivory-black  with  half  an  ounce  of  oil  of  vitriol, 
and  a  table-spoonful  of  sweet  oil.  Stir  up  smoothly,  then  add  half  a  pint  of 
molasses ;  stir  it  well,  and  thin  out  slowly  with  three  pints,  or  two  quarts  of 
vinegar,  according  to  proper  thickness  for  applying  with  a  sponge. 

A  Prej}aration  for  liemoring  Grease  Spots,  etc. 

Scrape  fine  a  quantity  of  dry,  white,  bar  soap,  and  cover  it  with  sufficient 
alcohol  to  dissolve  it.  Then  add  the  yolk  of  an  egg,  and  stir  it  into  a  paste. 
Add  to  this  a  little  turpentine,  and  also  enough  fuller's  earth  to  make  a  thick 
paste.  Put  it  into  a  wide-mouthed  vessel,  and  keep  it  tightly  covered.  "When 
required  for  use,  moisten  the  spot  with  warm  water,  and  rub  in  the  paste  with 
a  bit  of  flannel.  When  it  is  dry,  brush  it  off.  This  will  extract  all  stains  but 
those  caused  by  ink  or  rust. 

An  Ink  for  3IarMng  Linen  with  Stencil  Plate, 

Take  two  parts  of  sulphate  of  manganese  and  mix  it  with  four  parts  of  white 
powdered  sugar,  and  one  part  of  lamp-black.  When  it  is  well  mixed,  add 
enough  water — drop  by  drop — to  make  it  partly  liquid.  When  required  for 
use,  sjn-ead  the  paste  on  a  piece  of  thick  cloth,  and  press  the  metal  stamp  upon 
it  gently,  so  as  to  receive  a  thin  coating  of  ink,  then  stamp  the  fabric. 

When  a  stencil  plate  is  used,  pass  the  ink  over  it  with  a  stiff  brush.  After 
the  ink  is  applied  to  the  linen,  let  it  dry,  and  then  moisten  it  with  a  very  weak 
solution  of  caustic  potash,  by  which  the  soluble  sulphate  of  manganese  is  de- 
composed in  the  pores  of  the  linen,  into  the  insoluble  black  oxide  of  manganese, 
which  is  very  durable. 

To  Polish  Furniture. 

Rub  the  furniture  thoroughly  with  a  soft  flannel  or  leather,  and  then  polish 
it  with  tlie  following  mixture,  using  a  very  little  of  it  at  once  on  a  flannel : 
Mix  thoroughly  a  quarter  of  a  pint  of  turpentine,  a  quarter  of  a  pint  each  of 
linseed  oil,  and  the  same  measure  of  alcohol  and  vinegar.  Shake  up  well  in  a 
bottle ;  rub  the  furniture  briskly,  and  polish  with  a  silk  handkerchief. 
4 


50  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

Care  of  WooJen  Curtains. 

"Winter  curtains  that  are  to  be  laid  aside  during  the  Summer  months,  should 
be  shaken  and  well  brushed,  then  folded  neatly  and  put  away  with  dry  bran 
spread  between  the  folds.  This  will  make  them  look  bright  and  fresh  when 
taken  out ;  but  fasten  the  boxes  securely,  so  that  mice  will  not  be  attracted  by 
the  bran. 

All  woolen  goods  should  have  lumps  of  camphor,  or  better  still,  chips  of  cedar 
wood,  or  of  Russia  leather,  put  into  the  boxes  with  them,  to  exclude  the  moths. 

How  to  Metnove  Mildew. 

Make  a  very  weak  solution  of  chloride  of  lime,  a  heaped  up  tea-spoonful  to  a 
quart  of  water;  strain  it  carefully,  and  dip  the  spot  on  the  garment  into  it,  and 
if  the  spots  do  not  disappear,  lay  it  in  the  sun  for  a  few  minutes.  If  they  are 
still  visible,  dip  it  again  into  the  lime  water.  Rinse  the  cloth  in  clear  water,  as 
soon  as  the  spots  ai-e  out.     This  will  not  wear  the  fabric. 

Care  of  Pictures. 

Oil  pictures  require  an  occasional  dusting  and  polishing,  but  it  is  an  opera- 
tion that  demands  great  care.  If  done  with  a  feather  brush,  it  is  not  always 
well  accomplished,  and  a  pad  of  cotton-wool  will  often  be  found  to  produce  the 
best  effect,  but  the  operator  must  not  bear  with  any  force  upon  the  canvas,  lest 
she  should  produce  minute  cracks  that  will  spoil  the  picture. 

They  should,  also,  be  carefully  polished  once  in  awhile,  and  the  best  way  is  to 
breathe  gently  upon  the  surface,  and  rub  it  lightly  off. 

Or  a  little  roll  of  cotton-wool  can  be  dipped  in  lukewarm  water  and  squeezed 
as  dry  as  possible,  and  delicately  wiped  over  the  picture,  drying  it  at  once  with 
a  bit  of  chamois  skin. 

A  piece  of  sponge,  if  not  used  too  wet,  will  also  remove  smoke  and  fly  specks. 
It  is  always  better  to  return  to  such  small  spots  a  second  time,  than  to  leave 
them  wetted  too  long. 

Cold  tea  will  clean  varnished  pictures  so  as  to  make  them  look  fresh  and 
bright.  Rub  the  colors  dry  with  the  chamois  skin,  but  touch  them  very  lightly, 
else  you  will  do  more  harm  than  good. 

To  Stain  Woods. 

Burnt  umber  will  give  a  black  walnut  color,  and  burnt  sienna  a  mahogany 
hue.  Purchase  them  in  powder,  and  put  it  in  a  tin  pail,  or  a  common  jar,  and 
stir  it  up  to  a  thick  liquid  paint,  with  stale  beer  or  ale.  Water  will  do,  but  ale 
does  not  dry  in  so  quickly,  and  admits  of  more  rubbing  in,  and  as  the  harder  it 
is  rul)l)ed  in  the  better  will  be  the  stain,  the  former  is  more  desirable.  Put  it 
on  with  a  paint  brush,  or  if  that  is  not  come-at-able,  rub  it  on  with  a  bit  of 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  51 

flannel.  If  you  desire  to  stain  a  set  of  shelves  or  a  cupboard,  select  the  color, 
prepare  it,  and  rub  in  the  stain.  Do  it  evenly,  rubbing  all  one  way,  and  with 
long  strokes,  up  and  down,  not  cris-cross.  Let  it  dry  in  thoroughly,  then  var- 
nish with  shellac  varnish,  made  by  dissolving  half  a  jwund  of  shellac  in  strong 
alcohol.  Put  tlie  shellac  into  a  glass  jar,  cover  it  with  alcohol,  and  set  it  in  a 
warm  place.  When  melted,  if  it  is  too  thick  to  spread  easily  from  tlif  brush, 
add  more  alcohol.  AVith  a  varnish  brush  put  it  on  the  wood  work;  let  it  dry  in 
perfectly.  Add  another  coat,  and  before  it  is  dry,  only  hardened  a  little,  rub  it 
dry  with  a  bit  of  woolen  dipped  in  sweet  oil,  and  you  will  be  surprised  at  the 
hard,  smooth  finish  you  will  have  produced. 

To  Cleanse  Hah'  or  Clothes  Brushes. 

Dissolve  a  piece  of  washing  soda  about  the  size  of  a  walnut  with  an  atom  of 
soap,  in  a  basin  quite  full  of  warm  water.  Pass  the  hairs  of  the  brush  through 
the  surface  of  the  water,  taking  care  not  to  wet  the  handle  or  the  back  of  the 
brush,  as  it  not  only  spoils  the  varnish,  but  loosens  the  fastenings.  Shake  out 
the  brushes  several  times  from  the  water,  and  they  will  be  white  and  clean. 

Another  method  is  to  wet  the  brushes  a  little,  and  then  scatter  saleratus  over 
the  bristles,  and  taking  a  brush  in  each  hand,  rub  them  smartly  together  for  a 
few  minutes.  Then  wash  in  clear  water,  only  on  the  surface,  but  rub  the 
brushes  together  again.     Dry  in  the  sun,  and  they  will  be  as  good  as  new. 

To  Clean  Doeslcin  Iticling  Gloves. 

Wash  them  in  a  little  soap  and  water  to  remove  the  soil,  and  then  pull  them 
into  shape ;  but  be  careful  not  to  wring  them  in  the  washing,  as  that  shrinks 
the  leather.  Then  lay  them  on  the  table,  well  pulled  into  shape,  and  rub  them 
■with  a  dye  made  of  powdered  yellow  ochre,  and  pipe  clay,  mixed  into  a  paste 
with  vinegar  or  stale  beer. 

If  the  gloves  are  dark  colored,  use  a  mixture  of  fuller's  earth  and  rotten  stone, 
moistened  in  the  same  way.  When  the  gloves  are  half  dried  they  must  be 
rubbed  with  a  soft  cloth,  and  stretched  by  the  hands  to  make  them  soft  and 
pliable,  or  they  will  become  too  stiff  and  tear  easily. 

When  perfectly  dry.  beat  them  with  a  stick  to  remove  all  traces  of  the  powder, 
and  then  place  a  sheet  of  paper  over  them,  and  press  them  flat  with  a  warm 
iron,  and  they  will  look  fresh  and  new.  The  iron  must  not  be  hot,  but  only 
warm  enough  to  press  into  a  good  shape. 

To  Clean  Uliite  Kid  Gloves. 

Stretch  them  on  a  board,  and  rub  the  soiled  spots  with  powdered  magnesia  or 
cream  of  tartar.  Let  them  lie  in  it  an  hour,  and  rub  them  over  with  a  little 
powdered  alum  and  fuller's  earth  mixed  together.     Leave  them  for  an  hour  or 


52  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

so,  then  brush  it  all  off,  and  dip  a  flannel  in  finely  powdered  whiting  and  polish 
the  gloves  thoroughly. 

Another  method  is  to  take  a  little  sweet  milk,  and  a  cake  of  white  soap,  and  a 
soft  napkin.  Moisten  a  small  spot  of  the  latter  with  the  milk,  rub  it  on  the 
soap,  then  scour  off  the  spots  on  the  glove.  If  put  on  to  the  hand  it  can  be  done 
easier.  As  it  dries,  pull  it  white.  This  can  be  used  to  clean  all  kinds  of  tinted 
gloves  as  well  as  white  kid  gloves. 

To  JRestore  BlacJc  Kid  Gloves, 

Mix  a  little  sweet  oil  with  two  or  three  drops  of  ink.  Take  a  bit  of  black 
silk,  and  rub  it  over  all  the  worn  and  white  spots  in  the  gloves.  It  will  also  re- 
store black  kid  boots,  when  badly  defaced. 

To  Clean  Wash-leather  Gloiws. 

First  take  out  the  grease  spots  with  magnesia  or  cream  of  tartar.  Then  wash 
and  squeeze  them  through  a  lather  of  white  soap  and  lukewarm  water ;  hot 
water  will  shrink  them  too  much.  Rinse  first  in  lukewarm  and  then  in  cold 
water,  and  stretch  into  shape  carefully  ;  then  hang  in  the  sun  or  a  warm  place 
to  dry. 

Another  way  is  to  first  remove  the  soiled  spots,  and  then  put  on  a  glove  and 
rub  it  with  a  clean  sponge  wetted  in  lukewarm  soap-suds.  Rinse  them  off, 
and  rub  with  the  sponge  wetted  in  cold  water.  When  almost  dry  put  them  on 
the  hands  until  wholly  so,  and  it  will  prevent  them  from  shrinking  and  becom- 
ing too  small  for  use. 

3Ianaffement  of  Earthen  Ware, 

New  earthen  ware  should  be  soaked  in  cold  water  twenty-four  hours  before  it 
is  used,  as  it  will  then  be  less  liable  to  crack.  A  good-sized  wooden  tub  or 
bowl  is  the  best  for  washing  articles  which  are  not  greasy,  such  as  tea-cujis,  etc. 
A  small  mop  is  indispensable  to  wash  out  the  insides  of  pitchers  and  the  like. 
A  little  sal-soda  added  to  the  water  will  cleanse  jugs  and  pitchers,  or  cups  that 
become  stained,  but  it  should  be  used  very  sparingly,  and  not  often.  A  little 
milk  added  to  the  water  will  cleanse  gilded  and  painted  china  better  than  soap, 
that  is  apt  to  take  of  the  gilding.  For  tea  clotlis,  those  of  soft  linen  are  the 
most  desirable;  cotton  fabrics  are  not  sufficiently  absorbent  to  dry  earthen 
■ware. 

For  washing  greasy  dishes,  a  tin  pan  with  a  partition  in  the  center  is  most 
suitable,  as  one  part  of  it  can  hold  soap-suds,  and  tlie  other  clear  water  for  rins- 
ing tlie  dishes.  Dry,  closet  shelves,  or  those  with  glass  doors  are  the  best  for 
keeping  all  kinds  of  earthen  ware. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  53 

How  to  Sleep. 

No  perfect  rest  or  sleep  can  be  obtained  with  the  mouth  open,  and  as  it  is  the 
great  physician  and  restorer  of  mankind,  it  is  essential  for  parents  to  educate 
their  children  to  keep  the  lips  closed,  either  waking  or  sleeping,  excepting  when 
speaking,  etc. 

"Contrast,"  says  Mr.  Catlin,  in  his  book  entitled,  Shul  Your  Mouth  and  Save 
Your  Life,  " the  natuial  repose  of  the  Indian  child,  educated  to  keep  its  lips 
closed,  with  tlie  uncomfortable  slumbers  of  the  infant  of  civilization,  with  its 
little  moutli  open."  The  savage  mother  never  fails  to  press  the  lips  of  her 
infant  together  till  she  has  fixed  a  habit  that  will  last  through  life.  The  nos- 
trils are  evidently  made  for  breathing ;  they  form  the  natural  outlet  of  the  lungs. 
The  sides  of  their  air-passages  are  lined  with  hairs,  which  in  some  degree,  at 
least,  prevent  the  ingress  of  noxious  matters  in  the  air  we  breathe.  And  it  is 
confidently  stated  that  miasmas  are  prevented  from  entering  the  blood  if  one 
breathes  only  through  them. 

Therefore  keep  your  mouth  shut  when  you  sleep,  when  you  listen,  when  you 
are  walking  or  running,  and  by  all  means  when  you  are  angry.  The  habit  is 
difficult  to  acquire,  but  it  is  worth  taking  trouble  to  do  so. 

IIoiv  to  Lend  and  Horroiv  Soolcs. 

It  is  not  unusual  for  persons  to  borrow  books,  and  keep  them  such  a  length  of 
time,  that  at  last  they  really  forget  they  are  in  their  possession,  or  else  forget  to 
whom  they  belong.  And  sometimes  even  go  so  far  as  to  imagine,  and  even 
state  that  they  are  their  own  property. 

Such  conduct  is  very  annoying  to  lovers  of  books,  who  are  also  lovers  of  their 
neighbors,  and  desire  to  share  with  them  -the  books  they  possess,  so  far  as  allow- 
ing them  to  read  them ;  but  also  desire  that  they  should  be  returned  in  good 
season  and  good  order.  And  a  careful  person  will  never  be  guilty  of  such  a 
decided  breach  of  good  conduct,  but  will  keep  a  list  of  borrowed  books,  and  see 
that  they  are  duly  returned  to  their  respective  owners.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  keep 
all  borrowed  books  upon  a  shelf,  apart  from  other  books,  and  placed  in  a  con- 
spicuous jiart  of  the  house,  so  that  they  will  constantly  remind  you  of  your  dere- 
lictions. 

There  is  no  excuse  for  such  peccadillos,  and  they  often  result  in  making  book 
owners  declare  that  not  another  book  shall  be  lent  out  of  the  house.  Or  else 
they  adopt  the  plan  of  keeping  an  account  of  all  books  lent,  and  to  whom,  and 
if  the  borrower  should  forget  to  return  it,  the  lender  can  apply  for  it.  This  in- 
volves some  trouble,  but  it  is  better  than  niggardly  refusing  to  lend  books  to 
one's  friends. 


54  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

A  Sure  Indication  of  Death. 

We  read  occasionally,  startling  accounts  of  apparent  death,  sometimes  fol- 
lowed by  burying  alive,  so  it  may  not  be  unwise  to  give  our  readers  the  follow- 
ing method  of  determining  the  condition  of  the  body.  A  medical  gentleman 
states  that  if  a  droji  of  strong  spirits  of  ammonia  be  injected  beneath  the  skin, 
a  red  spot  will  surely  appear  should  the  patient  be  in  a  comatose  state,  but  if 
death  is  actually  present,  no  such  effect  can  possibly  follow. 

Economy  in  Coals, 

It  is  usual  in  many  families  to  lay  in  a  stock  of  coke  as  well  as  coal,  and  by 
having  it  broken  up  very  small  and  mixed  with  the  coal,  the  fire  can  be  lighted 
much  easier. 

You  can  also  produce  a  decided  saving  in  your  coal  bills  by  mixing  the  ashes 
with  coal-dust  and  small  coal,  and  wetting  it  a  very  little  ;  then  put  it  at  the 
back  of  the  grate,  and  fill  the  front  up  with  coal,  and  it  will  all  burn  together 
brightly  and  clear. 

Hoiv  to  Wash  Colored  Silh  Handherchiefs. 

Make  a  good  suds  in  lukewarm  water,  in  which  a  little  bit  of  carbonate  of 
ammonia  has  been  dissolved  ;  rub  the  handkerchiefs  lightly  in  the  hands  till  all 
the  spots  have  disappeared.  Then  rinse  them  in  lukewarm  water,  and  squeeze 
them  as  dry  as  possible.  Take  hold  of  two  corners  and  shake  and  snap  each 
one  for  a  few  minutes.  Roll  in  a  soft  towel,  tightly,  laying  the  handkerchief 
flat  on  the  towel  at  first,  squeeze  tightly,  and  iron  at  once.  Another  method  is 
to  put  three  cents'  worth  of  sugar  of  lead  into  the  suds  and  proceed  as  above. 

To  Itestore  French  Gold  Ornaments. 

Drop  ten  drops  of  spirits  of  ammonia  into  half  a  pint  of  water,  and  rub  the 
ornaments  with  a  soft  brush.     Dry  in  a  napkin,  and  polish  with  chamois  skin. 

Woolen  Wristlets. 

"When  the  season  is  very  severe,  a  pair  of  wool  knitted  wristlets  are  of  the 
greatest  service  in  keeping  the  whole  body  warm  ;  and  we  would  especially  rec- 
ommend them  to  the  aged  and  the  delicate  of  both  sexes,  and  also  for  little 
children. 

The  blood  which  flows  through  the  arteries  comes  very  near  the  surface  at  the 
wrists,  as  you  can  easily  perceive  by  feeling  your  pulse.  Keep  it  warm  there, 
and  the  whole  system  is  favorably  affected.  In  the  same  way  in  cases  of  fever, 
the  blood  can  be  perceptibly  cooled  by  rubbing  the  wrists  with  cologne  or  cam- 
phorated spirits. 

The  wristlets  can  be  made  three  or  four  inches  in  lensrth,  and  either  crocheted 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  55 

or  knitted  round  and  round,  and  can  be  finished  at  the  hand  with  a  dainty  ruffle. 
It  is  better  to  have  two  or  tlnee  pairs,  and  change  them  frequently,  as  they  soil 
easily.  A  pair  of  white  woolen  wristlets  can  be  worn  under  tlie  linen  cuff  or 
the  frill,  and  not  be  perceptible. 

To  Ilcstore  J'\ideil  Black  Alpacas  and  Cashmeres. 

If  you  do  not  wish  to  rip  the  breadths  apart,  brush  the  skirts  perfectly  free 
from  dust,  and  then  sponge  them  on  the  right  side  with  clear  cold  coffee,  and 
iron  with  a  moderately  hot  iron,  on  the  wrong  side — or  over  a  bit  of  piint,  such 
as  an  apron.  White  goods  will  lint  it.  To  restore  a  dress  that  is  tui'ned 
brown,  cut  the  seams  open  close  to  the  sewing — to  save  the  time  of  ripping,  and 
brush  them  free  from  dust. 

Then  take  two  spoonfuls  of  the  extract  of  logwood,  and  two  spoonfuls  of  the 
crystals  of  copperas,  and  put  them  into  three  or  four  gallons  of  boiling  hot  suds. 
Put  in  all  the  pieces  of  black  goods  you  desire  to  color  over,  and  let  tbem  boil 
five  minutes.  Take  out  and  rinse  in  wai-m  water,  with  a  stick  lifting  them  up 
and  down.  Do  this  thoroughly.  Run  through  a  wringer — and  hang  in  the  suu 
to  dry  ;  iron  on  the  wrong  side  before  they  become  too  dry. 

To  Itestore  Faded  Drab  and  Slate  Colors. 

Save  the  tea  leaves  and  cold  tea,  for  a  few  days,  then  boil  in  some  water,  and 
strain  from  the  leaves,  and  treat  as  described  above. 

To  Clean  Vliite  Spar  Ornaments. 

Wash  with"  JayeZ/e  Wa?er," rinse  in  plain  water,  wipe  with  a  soft  towel,  and 
dry  in  the  sun. 

JIow  to  Build  a  Cistern. 

A  cistern  can  be  built  that  will  last  a  hundred  years  or  more — and  supply  a 
large  family  with  wholesome  water  for  cooking  and  drinking  purposes,  and  soft 
water  for  washing.  Select  a  location  near  the  house,  (generally  in  the  grass 
plat,)  and  for  a  cistern  twelve  feet  in  diameter  in  the  clear,  and  ten  feet  deep 
from  the  bottom  to  the  arch,  dig  a  circular  hole  about  fifteen  feet  in  diameter, 
and  from  sixteen  to  seventeen  feet  in  depth.  See  that  the  foundation  is  firm, 
and  that  the  bottom  is  made  level  and  smooth.  Then  cover  it  with  one  and  a 
quarter  inch  boards,  two  thicknesses,  laid  cross-ways  of  each  other.  On  these 
place  two  layers  of  sound,  hard-burned  paving  bricks,  with  strong  water  lime 
cement.  Then,  leaving  twelve  feet  space  in  the  clear,  build  the  outside  circular 
wall,  eight  inches  thick,  of  the  bricks,  raising  it  ten  feet  high  ;  now  commence 
turning  the  arch  with  a  proper  curve,  and  leave  a  hole  in  the  top,  two  feet  in 
diameter,  to  receive  the  cast  iron  curb.  This  and  the  cover  being  about  three 
feet  higii,  they  should  just  reach  the  top  of  the  yard  or  grass  plat.     Also  build  a 


56  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

partition  wall,  eight  inches  thick  across  the  center  of  the  cistern,  and  np  to  a 
little  above  the  spring  of  the  arch,  leaving  eiglit  or  ten  bricks  out  of  the  bottom 
course,  so  as  to  let  the  water  pass  from  one  side  of  the  cistern  to  the  other ;  also 
build  two  low  partitions,  one  each  side  of  the  center  partition,  each  about  two 
feet  in  the  clear  from  the  center  partition,  and  two  feet  high,  to  hold  the  filter- 
ing material.  All  the  walls  must  be  laid  in  water  lime  cement,  so  that  no 
water  can  get  through  from  the  outside ;  and  the  entire  inside  should  be  well 
plastered  with  llonian  cement,  to  prevent  the  water  tasting  of  the  lime.  The 
tops  of  the  inside  walls  should  be  capped  with  clean  fiat  stones. 

Filtered  Water, 

The  best  of  water  loses  nothing  by  filtration,  and  no  house  should  be  with- 
out a  filtering  fountain  to  be  used  when  the  water  is  muddy.  An  economical 
one  can  be  made  by  taking  out  the  head  of  a  cask — setting  it  upright,  and  at  a 
distance  of  about  one-third  from  the  bottom  of  it  place  a  shelf  or  partition, 
pierced  with  small  holes.  On  this  shelf  place  a  layer  of  clean,  small  pebbles, 
over  it  a  quantity  of  animal  charcoal  made  by  burning  bones,  or  else  wood 
charcoal.  Then  scatter  on  an  inch  of  fine  sand,  and  another  layer  of  pebbles. 
Over  this  put  another  partition  with  fine  holes,  or  an  iron  strainer  to  prevent  the 
water  from  disturbing  the  bed  of  pebbles,  charcoal  and  sand.  At  the  bottom 
of  the  cask,  put  in  a  cock  to  draw  off  the  w-ater.  A  pipe  can  come  from  the 
eaves  to  the  cask,  then  a  cover  should  be  fitted  in. 

Jiurns  and  Scalds. 

Cold  water  is  the  surest,  most  abundant,  and  the  readiest  remedy  for  burns 
or  scalds  that  can  be  procured.  Use  it  instantly,  and  it  will  prevent  the  skin 
from  blistering,  and  remove  the  pain  and  smart.  If  possible  immerse  the  burn 
in  the  water,  holding  it  there  for  half  an  hour  or  more,  or  until  all  sensation  of 
pain  is  relieved.  If  the  part  cannot  be  thus  treated,  dip  thick  cloths  in  water, 
and  keep  them  wetted  upon  the  burn  all  the  time.  Do  not  remove  the  cloth  to 
let  the  air  touch  the  skin,  but  wet  them  by  dripping  from  a  sponge.  Keep  outer 
cloths  to  catch  the  drops,  and  not  dampen  the  clothing. 

Antidotes  to  Poisons. 

When  you  have  swallowed  a  poisonous  substance,  and  medical  aid  is  not  at 
once  obtainable,  take  a  cupful  of  warm  water,  in  which  a  tea-spoonful  of  dry 
mustard  has  been  mixod.  If  you  have  not  dry  mustard  in  the  pantry,  the  cliina- 
closet  will  usually  contain  a  mustard  pot,  and  a  tea-spoonful  of  its  contents, 
mixed  with  the  water,  will  very  quickly  produce  nau.sea,  and  relieve  you  from 
all  danger.  Warm  water  alone  will  often  prove  efficacious — and  if  neither  it 
nor  the  mustard  are  obtainable,  a  spoonful  of  powdered  alum,  stirred  up  in 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  57 

molasses,  will  produce  the  desired  effect  as  speedily.     Be  sure  however  to  keep 
these  two  articles,  viz. :  mustard  and  alum  on  the  slielves  of  the  pauti'y. 

Meniedj/  for  I*oisoH  from  Irij, 

This  painful  poison  will  yield  quickly  to  a  solution  of  sugar  of  lead.  Dissolve 
a  piece  about  the  size  of  a  hazel-nut  in  half  a  tea-cup  of  boiling  milk,  and  apply 
it  as  hot  as  the  sufferer  can  bear  it,  with  a  soft  linen  cloth.  Three  or  four  aj> 
plications  will  usually  effect  a  cure.  If  the  poison  is  on  the  face,  and  is  ap- 
proaching the  eyes  or  mouth,  lay  cloths  wetted  in  the  solution  upon  the  face, 
covering  them  with  dry  cloths,  and  ke^p  them  damped  all  the  time. 

It  is  a  marvelous  antidote,  and  by  watching  attentively  you  can  see  the  fevered 
blisters  turn  from  white  to  yellow,  while  applying  it ;  and  its  use  will  prevent 
a  great  deal  of  suffering.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  nuike  a  solution  of  the  sugar  of 
lead  in  water,  and  keep  it  bottled,  if  one  poisons  easily  by  this  noxious  plant. 
Iklilk  is  more  soothing  than  the  water,  but  the  latter  can  be  applied  as  soon  as 
the  fingers  or  face  begin  to  sting,  and  prevent  the  formation  of  the  blisters 
at  once. 

How  to  Store  Fruit  for  Winter  Use. 

When  you  are  so  fortunate  as  to  have  plenty  of  fruit,  it  is  well  to  take  some 
care  of  it,  so  that  when  the  dark,  damp  days  of  November  come,  the  waste  of  it 
will  not  be  apparent.  It  should  be  carefully  gathered  and  sorted,  leaving  all 
that  is  bruised  and  over  ripe  for  immediate  consumption,  and  to  give  away. 

Then  have  a  suitable  room  in  which  to  keep  it,  a  dry  upper  chamber  that  is 
dark,  cool,  and  well  aired,  is  just  the  place  for  it ;  and  if  rows  of  shelves  are 
placed  in  it,  apples  and  pears  and  grapes  can  be  laid  upon  them,  so  as  not  to 
touch  each  other,  and  tliey  will  keep  in  good  condition  for  months,  if  the  room 
is  frost  proof. 

The  usual  way  of  pouring  out  apples  and  pears,  like  grain,  in  the  corners  of 
cellars  and  store-rooms,  and  letting  them  ferment,  and  send  forth  obnoxious 
odors,  is  anything  but  cleanly.  Far  better  to  give  away  or  sell  at  a  low  price, 
what  is  not  needed  for  family  use.  Apples  can  be  stored  in  a  dry,  cool  cellar, 
and  kept  tightly  covered  after  they  have  ceased  to  become  damp.  If  grapes  are 
packed  in  dry  sawdust,  after  they  have  lain  on  shelves  for  a  week  or  two,  they 
will  keep  until  into  the  spring. 

To  MaJce  Boots  and  Slioes  Water-rroof. 

A  good  composition  to  make  boots,  etc.,  proof  against  snow  and  wet,  can  be 
made  out  of  one  part  mutton  suet,  and  one  part  beeswax,  melted  and  well  stir- 
red together. 

It  should  be  applied  at  night  hot ;  and  in  the  morning  wipe  off  the  boots  with 
a  colored  piece  of  flannel.  Although  when  the  composition  is  first  put  on,  the 
leather  will  not  polish  as  well  as  usual  when  blacked,  yet  after  a  few  times  it 


58  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

will  take  a  brilliant  polish.  Another  method  of  rendering  leather  water-proof 
and  durable,  is  to  dissolve  half  an  ounce  of  Burgundy  pitch  in  half  a  pint  of 
drying  oil,  mixed  with  half  an  ounce  of  turpentine.  Warm  the  boots  slightly 
before  the  tire,  and  apply  the  mixture  with  a  soft  brush  ;  a  small  paint  brush  is 
good  for  this  purpose.  Let  them  dry  well,  and  then  give  them  a  second  coat. 
Let  the  boots  stand  in  a  dry  })lace  for  two  or  three  days,  and  they  will  be  ready 
for  use  ;  and  will  last  much  longer  than  if  the  leather  had  not  been  varnished 
with  it. 

Hoiv  to  3Ienil  Old  Boots  and  SJioes. 

Xo  matter  how  full  of  holes  the  soles  may  be,  if  the  upper  leathers  are  sound 
and  the  stitching  firm,  they  can  be  covered  with  gutta-percha,  and  with  a  little 
expense  they  will  be  "  Amaist  as  gude  as  new." 

The  gutta-percha  can  be  bought  in  thin  sheets,  and  a  pattern  taken  of  the 
sole  and  then  cut  out  by  it.  Warm  the  soles  a  little,  and  press  the  gutta-percha 
firmly  over  them.     Let  them  stand  awhile,  and  they  will  do  you  good  service. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  tops  of  your  shoes  or  slippers  are  shabby,  and  the 
soles  perfectly  good,  they  can  be  covered  tightly  with  woolen  cloth  or  velvet, 
stitched  on  as  closely  as  possible  to  the  regular  seam.  A  pair  of  boots  can  be 
covered  with  black  lasting  so  neatly,  that  one  would  easily  mistake  them  for 
new  boots. 

A  pair  of  slippers  that  are  worn  out  can  be  made  to  do  duty  for  sickness,  if 
covered  with  knitting  or  crochet  work,  and  be  soft  and  warm  to  the  feet. 

ITotv  to  Light  Fires  on  Damp  3Iornings. 

All  housekeepers  have  some  time  realized  the  difficulty  of  lighting  a  fire  in  a 
still,  damp  morning,  when  the  chimney  will  not  draw,  and  vigorous  blowing 
proves  quite  ineffectual  to  produce  a  flame. 

Science  explains  the  trouble  as  "  caused  by  the  difficulty  encountered  in  over- 
coming the  inertia  of  the  long  column  of  air  in  the  pipe  or  chimney,  by  the 
small  cf)lumn  of  air  that  can  be  forced  through  the  interstices  of  wood  or  coal, 
at  the  bottom  of  which  the  kindlings  are  lighted." 

This  may  be  remedied  by  first  lighting  a  few  bits  of  shavings  or  paper,  upon 
the  top  of  the  coal  or  wood ;  thus  by  the  heated  air  forcing  itself  into  the 
chimney,  an  upward  current  is  established,  and  the  room  is  kept  free  from  the 
gas  or  smoke  which  is  so  apt  to  fdl  it,  while  the  fire  will  also  light  quickly,  and 
burn  brightly. 

To  Make  Instantaneous  Fire-Lightcrs. 

One  of  the  latest  jiroposals  has  been  to  light  fires  by  electricity,  so  that  the 
fires  in  a  house  being  laid  ready  over  night,  no  one  need  stir  out  of  bed  till  every 
room  was  coniforta])ly  heated.  Even  with  electricity,  however,  fire-lighters  of 
some  sort  would  be  indispensable;,  and  we  have  heard  of  a  new  method  that  has 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  59 

recently  been  invented  for  making  them  out  of  a  cheap  and  easily  obtained 
material. 

Turf  or  peat  is  cut  into  cakes  about  three  inches  in  length,  by  three  in  width, 
and  one  inch  in  tliickness. 

It  is  then  dipped  tirst  into  mineral  or  vegetaVjle  oil,  and  then  into  pitch,  tar 
or  turpentine,  and  the  result  is  a  highly  infiammable  fire-lighter.  These  pieces 
should  be  thoroughly  dried,  and  carefully  stored  away. 

To  Extinyuish  Five  in  Chimneys. 

There  are  several  better  ways  to  extinguish  fires  in  chimneys,  and  either  of 
them  are  better  than  the  old-fashioned  way  of  throwing  water  down  them  from 
the  top,  as  it  always  damages  the  carpets,  and  often  the  furniture.  One  of  the 
simplest  methods  is  to  throw  handfuls  of  flour  of  sulphur  over  the  dullest  part 
of  the  burning  coals,  thus  causing  mephitic  va]-)ors  to  rise,  which  will  extinguish 
the  flames.  Meanwhile  shut  up  the  doors  and  the  windows  of  the  room,  thus 
decreasing  the  draught ;  and  hold  a  piece  of  wet  carpet  or  blanket  so  as  to  close 
up  the  mouth  of  the  fire,  after  throwing  on  the  sulphur.  Then  if  the  draught 
below  is  stopped,  the  burning  soot  will  soon  be  extinguished  for  want  of  air. 

If  every  fire-place  were  provided  with  a  damper  or  shutter  of  sheet-iron  or 
tin  plate,  large  enough  to  fill  it  up  entirely,  fires  in  chimneys  would  rarely  do 
any  damage,  as  one  need  only  apply  the  damper  to  put  them  out  at  once. 

To  Make  a  Storm-Glass. 

Take  two  drachms  of  powdered  camphor  ;  half  a  drachm  of  pure  nitrate  of  pot- 
ash, and  half  a  drachm  of  muriate  of  ammonia,  both  finely  powdered  by  a  drug- 
gist. Put  these  ingredients  into  a  small  glass  bottlo  about  ten  inches  in  length, 
and  one  inch  in  diameter.  A  bottle  that  has  held  Farina  Cologne  answers  the 
purpose  exactly.  Fill  it  with  the  strongest  proof  alcohol,  half  way  up,  then 
turn  in  boiled  rain  water  cold,  until  it  is  within  an  inch  and  a  half  of  the  neck. 
Cork  the  bottle,  not  very  tightly,  and  hang  it  in  the  shade  near  a  window.  The 
sun's  rays  injure  it.  If  the  weather  promises  fair,  the  upper  part  of  the  bottle 
is  clear  and  transparent.  If  rain  or  snow  threaten,  the  compound  at  the  bottom 
rises  slowly,  and  feathery  particles  float  about  the  bottle. 

Twenty-four  hours  before  a  storm,  or  a  tempest,  the  sul>stance  will  be  partly 
on  the  surface  of  the  liquid,  seemingly  like  a  leaf  or  spray,  and  the  whole  con- 
tents will  be  in  a  state  of  fermentation. 

A   Cheap  Weather   Glass. 

Take  a  wide  mouthed  glass  fruit  jar,  and  fill  it  to  within  two  or  three  inches 
of  the  brim  with  soft  w-ater.  Turn  a  clean  oil  flask,  such  as  olive  oil  comes  in, 
with  its  neck  within  the  fruit  jar.  Should  the  weather  hold  fair,  the  water 
in  the  neck  of  the  flask  will  remain  about  half  an  inch  above  the  level,  but  if 


6o  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

rain  or  snow  be  near,  the  water  will  rise  gradually  in  the  neck  ;  and  if  the  at- 
mosphere be  very  heavy,  it  will  sometimes  rise  as  much  as  two  or  three  inches 
in  a  few  hours. 

Tlie  water  does  not  need  to  be  changed ;  and  outdoors  or  indoors  are  alike 
immaterial,  excepting  in  freezing  weathei',  for  if  the  water  should  freeze  it 
would  break  the  jar. 

This  simple  apparatus  will  not  indicate  the  exact  amount  of  moisture  in  the 
atmosphere;  but  the  warning  given  by  the  rise  of  the  water  in  the  neck  of  the 
flask,  will  often  prevent  the  family  wash  from  being  wetted ;  and  also  disap- 
pointment in  other  domestic  affairs,  when  a  dry  day  is  essential  to  the  work. 

To  Henovate  a  Slack  Cloth  Coat. 

Boil  half  a  pound  of  logwood,  and  a  few  bits  of  copperas  in  three  pints  of 
water  until  reduced  to  a  quart.  When  cold  strain  it  through  a  cloth,  and  add 
a  half  a  wine-glass  of  spirits  of  wine  ;  shake  it  well  together.  Brush  the  coat 
thoroughly,  shaking  out  all  the  dust ;  then  with  a  nail  brush  apply  the  mixture 
to  all  the  soiled  parts,  hang  up  to  dry  in  a  warm  place,  then  brush  out  well  with 
a  soft  brush.  If  the  coat  collar  is  much  soiled,  clean  it  with  inodorous  Benzine, 
or  with  a  bit  of  silk  dipped  in  chloroform.  Or  grate  a  potato  into  a  saucerful 
of  water,  and  let  it  settle,  then  rub  the  collar  with  the  potato  water.  Cold  tea 
is  also  an  excellent  thing  to  clean  soiled  coats. 

To  Clean  Plaster  Figures, 

Dissolve  a  small  amount  of  whiting  in  just  enough  water  to  make  a  paste, 
and  put  it  over  the  figure  with  a  brush.  A  little  isinglass  or  glue  dissolved  in 
the  water  before  the  whiting  is  added,  will  prevent  its  rubbing  off. 

To  Clean  Sniohy  Lamp  Chitnneys, 

Put  a  tea-spoon  of  oil  of  vitriol  into  a  little  water,  and  dip  pieces  of  newspaper 
into  it  and  rub  off  the  spots  with  them.  Draw  pieces  of  paper  through  the 
chimneys  to  wipe  them  dry. 

To  Itestore  Woolen  Furniture  Coverings, 

Beat  the  dust  out  as  clean  as  possible,  then  rub  them  over  with  a  soft  cloth, 
to  remove  all  loose  dust.  Make  a  good  lather  of  Castile  or  hard  bar-soap,  and 
dip  a  soft  flainiel  into  it,  and  wash  out  every  part  of  the  covering.  Then  rinse 
it  off  with  a  cloth  dipped  into  a  strong  solution  of  alum  and  water.  Thus  pre- 
pared, not  a  moth-miller  will  touch  it. 

To  TaJce  Fruit  Stains  out  of  Linen. 

Moisten  the  .spot  slightly  with  clear  water,  and  then  light  several  brimstone 
matcluis,  and  hold  the  spot  ov(!r  them,  so  that  the  sulphurous  gas  can  reach  the 
stain,  and  the  spots  will  soon  disappear. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  6i 

To  Take  Iron  Must  out  of  Linen, 

Hold  the  part  that  is  spotted  -with  iron  rust,  over  the  top  of  a  bowl  filled  with 
boiling  water,  and  rub  it  out  with  lemon  juice  and  s.ilt,  or  with  a  solution  of 
oxalic  acid.     When  the  spot  disappears,  wash  out  the  place  in  boiling  water. 

A  JPlea  for  Ashes. 

The  hearth  stone  is  fireless  in  many  families,  because  the  mistress  of  the  house- 
hold thinks  it  such  an  addition  to  the  daily  work,  and  also  that  it  adds  so  much 
more  to  the  dust  and  soil  of  the  room.  And,  if  after  dint  of  persuasion  and 
entreaty,  a  fire  is  allowed  to  cast  its  delicious  warmtli,  and  its  healthful  glow 
about  the  room  ;  no  sooner  is  it  extinguished  than  her  love  of  neatness  banishes 
every  ash  and  brand  as  if  they  were  signs  of  disorder  instead  of  comfort.  Now 
we  insist  that  ashes  are  clean, — so  clean  as  to  be  used  in  cleansing  paint,  etc., 
and  fire  is  the  emblem  of  purity  ;  so  that  a  liberal  pile  of  ashes  does  not  denote  a 
slatternly  housewife — but  on  the  contrary  it  protects  tlie  chimney  back  from  in- 
jury, and  also  the  hearth,  and  preserves  embers  and  coal  from  being  consumed 
too  quickly,  and  it  also  preserves  the  coals  for  another  day's  use.  ISo  let  us 
make  the  hearth  as  clean  as  we  please,  but  let  the  ashes  pile  up  on  all  sides  as  a 
safeguard,  and  a  surety  of  warmth. 

The  Arrangement  of  Apartments, 

The  best  way  to  arrange  apartments  to  give  them  expression  is  to  study  light 
and  shade,  and  the  combination  of  drapery,  furniture,  and  pictures.  Then  let 
the  whole  atmosphere  breathe  sociability  and  comfort,  and  do  not  give  them  an 
isolated  air. 

See  how  a  room  looks  after  a  number  of  people  have  left  it,  and  then  as  you 
set  things  to  rights,  let  the  chairs  and  ottomans  remain  as  they  were  when  the 
room  was  filled  with  guests. 

Make  little  studies  of  these  things,  and  you  will  give  some  character  to  your 
rooms,  and  not  make  them  look  as  though  a  funeral  was  in  preparation. 

As  you  enter  some  rooms  the  chilling  atmosphere  is  felt  at  once,  and  almost 
unconsciously  to  yourself,  you  put  on  a  stiff,  set  demeanor,  company  manners, 
as  they  are  sometimes  styled ;  and  you  cauuot  even  maintain  a  cheerful,  gay 
spirit,  while  making  a  morning  call. 

Socrates^  Advice  on  House  Building, 

Pray  ought  not  he  who  cares  to  have  a  house  built  as  it  should  be,  contrive  so 
that  it  should  be  as  pleasant  and  convenient  as  possible  to  live  in?  Is  it  not 
then  pleasant  for  it  to  be  cool  in  Summer  and  warm  in  Winter  ? 

Does  not  the  sun,  in  such  houses  as  front  the  south,  shine  obliquely,  during 
the  Winter  time,  into  the  porticoes,  while  in  Summer  it  passes  vertically  over 


62  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

the  roofs,  and  fiffords  no  shade?  Is  it  not  well,  therefore,  if  at  any  rate  this 
pcsitiou  for  a  house  be  a  good  one,  to  build  it  in  such  a  way  that  it  shall  be 
the  highest  toward  the  south,  so  that  the  Winter  sun  nuiy  not  be  shut  out, 
and  lower  toward  the  north,  so  that  the  cold  winds  may  not  beat  upon  it  so 
violently  ? 

To  speak  as  concisely  as  possible,  that  would  be  probably  the  pleasantest  and 
most  beautiful  dwelling-house  to  which  the  owner  could  most  agi'eeably  betake 
himself  at  all  seasons,  and  in  which  he  could  most  safely  deposit  his  goods. 

To  3Iahe  a  Hag  Bug, 

As  the  making  of  floor  mats  and  rugs  is  much  in  vogue  of  late,  various 
methods  have  been  invented  for  using  up  old  dresses,  coats,  vests  and  the  like, 
in  their  manufacture.  The  following  directions  will  i^roduce  quite  a  pretty  rug, 
and  also,  one  that  will  last  for  years. 

Cut  and  sew  the  rags  in  the  same  way  as  for  making  a  rag  carpet,  winding 
each  color  into  balls  by  itself.  Then  with  a  large  crochet  hook,  make  diamonds 
about  an  eighth  of  a  yard  in  length.  Begin  with  one  stitch,  and  make  a  stitch 
every  time  across  until  the  center  is  large  enough,  then  naiTow  one  stitch 
every  time  until  one  remains.  Draw  the  cloth  firmly  through  this  twice,  and  it 
will  need  no  other  fastening.  Crochet  two  rows  with  black  around  the  outer 
edge  of  each  diamond.  Crochet  the  pieces  together  with  very  strong  j'arn,  by 
placing  the  points  together  and  crocheting  through  each  stitch.  Put  the  colors 
together  tastefully,  and  crochet  three  rows  of  black  around  the  entire  rug. 

Iloiv  to  Use  Kerosene  Lamiis. 

Although  the  introduction  of  lamps  for  burning  mineral  oils  is  of  compara- 
tively recent  date — the  oil  wells  not  being  discovered  at  Oil  Creek,  Penn.,  until 
1859 — yet  they  have  become  so  universally  adopted,  as  to  be  considered  almost 
a  necessity  in  every  house;  for,  even  when  gas  is  used,  one  or  more  kerosene 
lamps  are  usually  at  hand. 

In  the  minds  of  many,  however,  the  fear  of  a  dangerous  exjilosion  is  so 
great,  that  many  careful  housewives  prefer  to  use  candles  for  carrying  about  the 
house. 

That  these  lamps  are  dangerous,  if  improperly  used,  no  one  doubts  ;  but,  if 
only  ordinary  care  is  exercised,  there  need  be  no  more  danger  from  them,  than 
in  the  use  of  sju-rm  oil,  or  common  candles. 

Mineral  oil,  although  accounted  as  a  recent  discovery,  was  known  to  the 
ancients,  and  Pliny  mentions  the  petroleum  of  Agrigentim,  in  Sicily,  which 
was  used  in  lamps  under  the  title  of  "  Sicilian  oil." 

For  a  few  moments  after  a  lamp  is  lighted,  the  flame  should  be  kept  low,  as 
it  will  increase  in  size  and  intensity  as  the  heat  increases;  while,  if  fully  turned 
up  on  its  first  ignition,  it  will  become  too  strong,  and  either  break  the  chimney, 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  6^5 

or  throw  up  smoke  and  soot.  Bosides  this,  the  glass  chimney  should  become 
gradually  heated,  or  it  is  very  likely  to  break. 

It  frequently  happens  that  those  who  are  inexperienced  in  the  use  of  these 
lamps,  make  the  mistake  of  turning  the  wick  up  until  it  stands  just  above  the 
dome.  To  be  sure,  the  lamp  will  continue  to  burn  even  when  thus  arranged, 
but  its  light  will  be  feeble,  and  a  most  offensive  odor  is  produced,  because  the 
combustion  of  the  oil  is  not  complete.  On  the  otlier  hand,  if  a  lamp  is  turned 
down  too  low,  the  same  escape  of  gas  takes  place.  It  is  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance to  keep  the  perforated  plate  clean,  and  free  from  pieces  of  burnt  wick, 
which  are  so  liable  to  choke  up  the  apertures  and  impede  the  progress  of  the 
air,  which  feeds  the  flame. 

"When  the  lamp  is  in  good  order,  there  will  be  no  smell  whatever,  and,  if  any 
offensive  vapor  is  given  olf,  it  should  be  regarded  as  sure  evidence  of  imperfect 
combustion,  which  can  always  be  traced  to  a  deficiency  of  air,  through  the  par- 
tial stopping  of  some  of  the  apertures  through  which  it  is  intended  to  pass. 

In  order  to  ensure  perfect  safety  in  the  use  of  these  lamps,  the  upper  portion 
should  be  removed  daily,  and  a  little  boiling  water  be  poured  through  the  holes. 
Then,  the  wick  sliould  completely  fill  the  tube,  in  order  to  prevent  any  possibil- 
ity of  direct  communication  between  the  flame  and  the  oil  in  the  reservoir  ;  and 
the  lamp  must  never  be  filled  while  the  wick  is  ignited.  It  is,  also,  essential  to 
safety  that  the  lamps  should  be  filled  every  day,  for,  if  the  oil  runs  low  in  the 
lamp,  an  explosive  gas  will  form  upon  its  surface,  and  it  is  liable,  if  stirred,  to 
explode ;  hence  many  of  the  accidents  from  the  use  of  kerosene. 

And  lastly,  but  not  least,  on  no  account  should  the  lamp  be  placed  where  the 
oil  becomes  much  heated,  for,  if  it  is,  an  explosion  is  well-nigh  certain.  Cooks 
will  sometimes  place  a  lamp  on  a  range,  or  on  the  boiler  of  a  stove,  to  enable 
them  to  observe  some  cooking  operations,  ignorant  of  the  great  danger  to  which 
they  are  exposing  themselves  and  the  household,  in  case  of  the  ignition  of  the 
kerosene. 

The  crude  oil,  as  it  flows  from  the  wells,  is  unfit  for  household  purposes  of 
illumination  ;  it  is,  therefore,  submitted  to  a  process  of  distillation,  by  means 
of  which  the  more  inflammable  portions  are  removed.  The  first  product  of  this 
distillation  is  benzine,  or  benzoline,  a  highly  inflammable  and  dangerous  spirit. 
Then  comes  the  ordinary  burning  oil.  This,  if  it  is  properly  prepared,  will 
neither  explode  nor  give  off  inflammable  vajwr,  at  ordinary  temperature,  and, 
therefore,  it  is  perfectly  safe  to  use  in  the  various  kinds  of  lamps  prepared  for 
burning  it. 

A  very  simple  way  of  testing  kerosene  oil  is,  to  pour  a  little  into  a  saucer, 
and  apply  a  lighted  match  to  the  surface.  If  the  oil  is  suitable  for  lamps,  it 
will  not  ignite,  and,  on  dipping  the  match  into  the  oil,  the  flame  will  be  extin- 
guished ;  but,  if  it  is  not  highly  refined,  it  will,  at  once,  take  fire.  To  try  this 
experiment,  it  is  better  to  put  the  saucer  containing  the  oil,  into  a  basin  of  cold 
water. 


64  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

It  is  purely  a  fallacy  to  suppose  that  even  crude  mineral  oils  are,  of  them- 
selves, explosive ;  they  are  inflammable,  of  course,  and  will  burn  furiously,  if 
ignited;  but  the  explosion  is  to  be  feared  only  when  the  petroleum  vapor 
becomes  mixed  with  the  atmosphere,  and  is  brought  into  contact  with  flame. 

Still  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  oil  is  of  inflammable  nature,  and,  if 
possible,  it  should  be  stored  out  of  the  house,  for  fear  of  fire.  As  in  many 
other  things,  the  rage  for  cheapness  has  led  some  tradesmen  to  purchase  and 
sell  a  low  grade  of  oil,  the  use  of  which  is  always  attended  with  some  risk;  but 
refining  is  so  constantly  practiced  lately,  that  there  is  little  danger. 

To  Preserve  Steel  Ornaments. 

The  best  way  to  preserve  steel  ornaments  of  any  kind — combs,  earrings, 
brooches,  bracelets,  etc. — from  rust,  is  to  pound  some  starch  in  a  mortar,  and 
sift  it  through  fine  muslin,  and  half  fill  a  card-board  box  with  it ;  then  put  in 
the  ornaments  and  cover  them  with  the  starch.  When  they  are  wanted  for  use, 
brush  off  the  starch,  with  a  fine  jewelry  brush.  Always  put  them  back  when 
not  in  use,  and  they  cannot  become  rusted. 

To  Cut  Pencils  for  Draiving, 

This  is  not  quite  so  trifling  a  matter  to  some,  as  at  first  it  appears ;  for,  when 
much  delicate  drawing  is  done,  which  requires  a  constantly  clean  point,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  very  clean  fingers,  a  great  deal  of  the  incessant  scraping  of  the 
knife  can  be  avoided  by  cutting  away  the  wood  from  several  pencils  before  com- 
mencing, and  having  a  sheet  of  fine  sand-paper,  on  which  to  rub  the  lead  to  a 
point.  It  will  be  found  a  quick  and  sure  method,  and  does  not  require  one  to 
touch  the  lead;  but  the  pencil  should  revolve  in  the  fingers  while  being  rubbed. 

'An  Excellent  3Iethod  for  Clcanhu/  Silhs,  however  Light  in  Color. 

Boil  down  a  pair  of  old,  but  not  much  soiled  light  kid-gloves,  with  a  pint  of 
water,  until  it  is  reduced  to  one-third  of  a  pint,  and  nothing  remains  of  the 
gloves,  but  a  little  pulpy. substance.  Then  let  the  mixture  cool,  and  apply  with 
a  large  piece  of  flannel,  on  both  sides  of  the  silk.  Shake  each  breadth,  roll  it 
separately  in  a  towel,  let  it  lie  for  six  hours,  then  iron,  on  the  wrong  side,  with 
a  moderately  hot  iron. 

To  MaJce  a  Hortns  Siccus. 

Turn  the  contents  of  your  tin-collecting  case  on  to  a  newspaper,  and  carefully 
select  and  arrange  the  plants,  removing  all  dead  and  fading  leaves.  Then,  hav- 
ing ascertained  the  class  and  order,  spread  each  plan.t  on  to  sheets  of  white 
paper — large  glazed  foolscap  jiaper  is  now  considered  the  best,  because  blotting- 
paper,  which  has  been  usually  supposed  to  be  better  adapted  to  the  purpose, 
absorbs  the  colors  of  tlie  leaves  and  flowers,  while  the  glazed  paper  preserves 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  65 

them.    Cover  the  plant.s  with  another  sheet  of  paper,  and  spread  out  more  plants 
ou  that,  one  layer  above  the  other — press  with  heavy  books. 

Change  the  papers  every  day ;  have  two  sets  of  papers,  and  carefully  dry  the 
damp  sheets  before  using  them.  Be  very  careful  to  spread  every  leaf  and  petal 
as  flat  as  possible.  When  quite  dry,  affix  each  specimen  to  a  sheet  of  paper,  by 
pasting  tiny  strips  of  paper  across  the  stems.  The  classes  or  orders,  and  the 
place  in  which  it  was  obtained,  and  date,  should  be  neatly  written  under  each 
specimen. 

Contamination  from  Zinc  TanJcs, 

M.  Zinrek  calls  the  attention  of  housekeepers,  in  Dingier'' s  Polytechnic  Jour- 
nal, to  the  fact  that  water,  kept  in  small  reservoirs  lined  with  zinc,  or  collected 
from  roofs  covered  with  zinc,  is,  invariably,  contaminated  with  that  metal,  and 
that  the  use  of  such  water  for  domestic  purposes,  is  highly  injurious  to  health. 
il/.  Zinrek  recommends  that,  where  zinc  tanks  are  employed,  they  should  be 
painted  over  with  an  iron  pigment. 

How  to  Mahe  Home  Happy, 

It  is  practicable  to  make  home  so  delightful  that  children  will  have  no  dispo- 
sition to  wander  from  it,  or  prefer  any  other  place;  it  is,  also,  possible  to  make 
it  so  attractive  that  it  shall  not  only  firmly  hold  its  own  loved  ones,  but  shall 
draw  others,  by  the  power  of  its  attractions,  into  its  cheerful  circle. 

Let  the  house  be,  all  day  long,  the  scene  of  pleasant  looks,  pleasant  words, 
kind  and  affectionate  acts ;  let  the  table  be  the  hajjpy  meeting-place  of  a  merry 
group,  and  not  a  dull  board,  where  a  silent,  if  not  a  sullen  company  of  animals 
come  to  be  fed ;  let  the  meal  be  the  time  when  a  cheerful  laugh  is  heard,  and 
good  things  are  said,  and  all  the  droll  and  pleasing  incidents  of  the  day  are 
related. 

Let  the  sitting-room,  at  evening,  be  the  place  where  the  smiling  company 
enjoy  themselves  with  newspapers,  books,  games  and  work  of  various  kinds, 
until  the  time  for  the  good-night  kisses  arrives. 

Let  there  be  music  in  the  household,  not  music  kept  like  silks  and  satins,  rare 
china  and  silver,  to  exhibit  to  company,  but  home  music,  in  which  father  and 
mother,  and  sister  and  brother,  can  join. 

Let  your  companions  be  warmly  welcomed  whenever  they  enter  the  house, 
and  be  taken  into  the  family  circle,  and  made  a  part  of  the  home  grouf),  so  that 
daughters  will  not  think  it  more  agreeable  to  seek  the  obscurity  of  the  back- 
parlors  with  their  intimate  friends,  or  to  expect  fathers  and  mothers  and  the 
younger  children  to  leave  the  room,  when  their  visitors  enter  it.  In  a  word,  let 
the  house  be  filled  with  an  atmosphere  of  cosy  and  cheerful  good-will ;  then  your 
children  need  not  be  exhorted  to  love  it ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  they  can  hardly 
be  tempted  to  leave  it ;  and,  in  years  to  come,  they  will  ever  cherish  blissful 
remembrances  of  the  beloved  home  of  their  youth. 
5 


66  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

To  L>rhe  off  Vermin. 

Scatter  Cayenne  pepper  all  over  the  pantry  shelves,  and  not  an  ant  \\ill  molest 

you. 

Domestic  Account-Keepiufj. 

The  unsuspected  extravagances,  and  unintentional  wastefulness,  which  ren- 
der so  many  poor  households  even  poorer  than  they  need  be,  are  greatly  owing 
to  the  custom  of  making  purchases  of  supplies  without  any  previoiis  thought  as 
to  how  the  money  can  be  expended  to  make  it  go  the  farthest.  A  little  thought 
upon  the  matter,  a  little  painstaking  in  the  expenditures,  would  make  a  great 
difference  in  the  comforts  of  the  family. 

In  the  same  way,  even  in  the  houses  of  the  wealthy,  domestic  expenses  are 
increased  from  a  want  of  arithmetical  knowledge.  Therefore,  every  girl  should 
learn  how  to  keep  a  ledger,  to  balance  a  cash-book,  and  to  calculate  averages,  so 
as  to  estimate  rates  of  expenditures,  weekly,  monthly  and  yearly.  "Women  are 
usually  excellent  accountants,  if  they  are  bred  to  it  from  childhood  ;  and,  when 
a  wife  has  a  given  amount  for  weekly  or  monthly  expenses,  she  will  soon  learn 
not  to  waste  her  money  upon  follies  ;  and  it  becomes  a  real  pleasure  to  her  to 
make  the  most  of  what  she  receives ;  and  she  will  soon  learn  to  manage  her 
affairs  so  that  there  is  always  a  margin  for  unexpected  demands  upon  her 
allowance. 

To  Am^ltj  French  JFnrnifiire  Polish. 

Make  a  wad  with  a  piece  of  coarse  flannel  or  drugget,  by  rolling  it  round  and 
round ;  over  which,  on  the  side  to  be  used  to  polish,  put  a  bit  of  fine,  soft  linen, 
several  times  doubled  up.  Sew  it  on  tightly  ;  theu  moisten  the  wad  with  the 
preparation,  by  shaking  the  bottle  and  holding  the  wad  to  the  mouth  of  it. 
Proceed  to  rub  your  furniture  in  a  circular  direction,  doing  a  very  little  at  once. 
Rub  it  lightly  until  the  whole  surface  is  covered ;  repeat  this  two  or  three  times, 
but  let  each  coat  be  rubbed  until  thoroughly  dry,  and  be  careful  to  only  moisten 
the  rag  a  little  at  a  time,  and  you  will  have  a  very  bright  and  lasting  polish. 
Be  also  particular  to  keep  your  wad  soft  and  clean,  as  the  polish  depends  very 
much  on  the  care  you  take  to  keep  it  clean  and  free  from  dust  while  rubbing 
and  drying. 

To  Clean  Black  Cloth  or  SilJc  from  Spots  of  Wax. 

Place  a  little  soft-soap  upon  each  spot,  and  warm  it,  cither  in  the  sun  or  before 
the  fii-e,  slightly.  Wash  off,  and  it  will  disap{>car.  Or,  scrape  off  the  wax,  and 
cover  the  .spot  with  alcohol,  and  rub  with  a  soft  rag. 

To  Clean  riate. 

Take  an  ounce  each  of  cream  of  tartar,  muriate  of  soda,  and  alum,  and  boil 
in  a  gallon  of  water  for  ten  minutes.     Put  in  the  pieces  of  plate  or  silver,  and 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  67 

Boil  them  for  ten  minutes.  Take  thoin  out,  and  wipe  slightly  with  a  soft  linen 
towel;  tlien  rub  them  dry  with  a  cluunois  skin.  The  plate  will  iiave  a  beauti- 
ful silvery  whiteiu'ss.  Powdered  magnesia  will  also  polish  silver  handsomely ; 
but,  if  very  much  tarnished,  the  above  method  is  the  best. 

To  Clean  Glasses,  Bottles  and  Decanters. 

Break  up  a  few  egg-shells  that  have  not  been  cooked,  into  the  articles  to  be 
cleaned,  and  pour  in  a  little  cold  water  ;  if  greasy,  take  warmish  water,  with  a 
little  sal-soda.  Shake  w-ell;  rinse  out  with  a  plenty  of  cold  water,  and  let  them 
drain  thoroughly.  This  is  the  method  used  in  the  south  of  Fiance.  Another 
way  is  to  put  in  spent  tea-leaves,  and  shake  them  up  and  down  with  a  good  deal 
of  water.     They  will  take  off  all  stains. 

To  rrevent  Hair  Falling  Off. 

Glycerine  and  tincture  of  capsicum,  each  two  ounces ;  oil  of  bergamot,  one 
drachm  ;  mix  well,  and  apply  a  small  quantity,  by  rubbing  it  into  the  .scalp 
thoroughly  every  night.  ^V'ash  the  head  occasionally,  with  soft  water  and  toil- 
ette soap. 

Hoiv  to  Crimp  the  Hair. 

To  make  the  hair  stay  in  crimp,  take  five-cents'  worth  of  gum-arabic,  and 
add  to  it  just  enough  boiling  water  to  dissolve  it.  When  melted,  turn  in  alco- 
hol enough  to  make  a  thin  fluid.  Put  this  on  the  hair  at  night,  after  it  is  done 
up  in  crimping  pins,  or  paper,  and  it  ^Yill  keep  it  in  crimp  the  hottest  day,  while 
it  cannot  injure  the  hair. 

To  Prevent  Doors  from  Creaking. 

Apply  a  little  soft-soap  to  the  hinges ;  or,  take  lard,  soap  and  black  lead,  equal 
parts,  and  apply  with  a  brush ;  or,  take  the  oil-can  from  the  sewing-machine, 
and  drop  a  few  drops  into  the  hinges. 

To  Clean  SilJc. 

Dust  the  garment  thoroughly,  then  rip  apart,  and  spread  an  old  sheet  over  a 
large  table,  laying  the  breadths  of  silk  upon  it.  Take  half  a  tea-cup  of  ox-gall, 
half  a  tea-cup  of  aqua-ammonia,  made  by  dissolving  a  piece  of  carbonate  of 
ammonia,  as  large  as  a  walnut,  in  half  a  tea-cup  of  hot  water.  Add  to  this  a 
tearcup  of  tepid  water. 

Sponge  the  silk,  taking  care  to  rub  out  all  the  soiled  places — wet  it  well  on 
both  sides.  Having  finished  sponging,  roll  it  on  a  round  stick,  like  a  broom- 
handle,  taking  care  not  to  wrinkle  it  at  all.  Silk  thus  cleansed  and  thoroughly 
dried,  needs  no  ironing,  and  has  a  lustre  like  new  silk.     Take  care  to  shake  all 


68  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

the  moisture  out,  by  snapping  it  again  and  again.    Let  two  persons  take  hold  of 
each  breadth,  and  shake  them,  as  one  folds  sheets  to  iron. 

Not  only  silk  but  merino,  barege,  or  any  woolen  goods  can  be  cleaned  by  this 
method. 

How  3Iiich  to  Eat. 

In  order  to  keep  the  body  healthy,  food  should  be  consumed  judiciously.  Of 
course  the  harder  a  man  works  the  more  he  exhausts  his  physical  capacities,  and 
the  more  nourishment  he  requires ;  and  while  a  laboring  man  would  need  five 
pounds  of  solid  mixed  food  daily,  persons  of  sedentary  habits,  i.  e.,  those  who 
remain  quietly  indoors  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  and  sleep  more  than  eight 
hours  out  of  the  twenty-four,  two  and  a  half  pounds  would  be  quite  sufficient. 
It  has  been  ascertained  that  life  can  be  sustained  for  two  or  three  weeks  on  two 
ounces  of  food  a  day. 

Change  of  food  should  always  follow  change  of  seasons. 

In  Winter  we  require  the  most  stimulating  food,  such  as  is  contained  in  fat 
meats,  and  sweets  of  all  kinds. 

In  Summer  fresh  fruits  of  all  kinds,  fresh  fish,  and  meats  of  white  flesh  are 
more  desirable.  Milk  and  eggs  nourish  the  blood ;  potatoes  and  cereals  of  all 
kinds  increase  the  adipose  tissues.  Tea  and  coffee  are  usually  healthful  stimu- 
lants in  both  Summer  and  Winter,  if  not  taken  to  excess.  It  is  usually  better 
to  eat  too  little  than  too  much.  An  excessive  use  of  animal  food  must  surely  be 
acknowledged  as  one  of  our  national  weaknesses.  In  many  families  it  is  the  chief 
article  of  diet  at  breakfast,  luncheon,  and  dinner,  and  often  at  supper  also. 

Now  for  the  consolation  of  those  who  cannot  afford  to  eat  meat,  in  this  whole- 
sale manner,  it  cannot  be  too  widely  known  that  all  the  conditions  of  a  good, 
nutritious  diet  can  be  found  in  a  much  cheaper  form. 

In  oatmeal  porridge  and  milk,  for  instance,  they  are  to  be  met  with  as  well 
as  in  beef  or  mutton. 

We  would  not  imply  that  one  should  not  eat  meat  as  a  constant  article  of 
diet,  if  he  can  afford  it,  but  that  it  is  not  of  any  greater  use  to  the  system  than 
some  other  articles,  which  can  be  obtained  at  nuich  cheaper  rates. 

"  We  are  neither,"  says  a  high  autliority,  better  fed,  nor  stronger  because  our 
average  consumption  of  meat  is,  even  at  its  present  pi'ice,  greater  than  that  of 
any  European  nation. 

The  chief  food  of  the  Roman  gladiator,  was  barley-cakes  and  oil ;  and  this 
diet,  says  Hippocrates,  is  eminently  fitted  to  give  muscular  strength  and  endur- 
ance. The  Roman  soldier  had  little  or  no  meat.  His  daily  rations  were  one 
pound  of  barley,  three  ounces  of  oil,  and  a  pint  of  thin  wine. 

Ilotv  to  3Iake  New  Sojte  Pliable. 

Many  of  our  readers  doubtless  understand  how  difficult  it  is  to  handle  new 
ropes,  and  every  farmer  knows  how  unmanageable  a  new  stiff  rope-halter  always 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  69 

is,  and  how  severely  his  patience  is  tried  when  he  endeavors  to  tie  up  the  cattle 
with  it,  as  the  rope  will  coil  itself  into  every  shape  but  the  right  one  ;  and  often 
he  will  find  the  horses  and  cattle  straying  about  the  barn  from  having  loosened 
the  knots  of  the  new  halters.  By  simply  boiling  the  rope  for  an  hour  or  so  all 
this  annoyance  can  be  avoided,  and  the  rope  becomes  as  soft  and  pliable  as  if 
used  for  months.  Its  strength  is  not  diminished  by  the  boiling,  but  its  stiffness 
is  wholly  gone.  It  must  liang  in  a  warm  room,  however,  until  thoroughly  dried, 
and  not  be  allowed  to  kink  up  at  alJ. 

To  Clean  Knives, 

Scrape  at  one  end  of  the  knife-board  a  little  heap  of  Bath  brick ;  rub  on  to  a 
bit  of  wet  flannel  a  little  yellow  soap  ;  lay  the  knife  flat  on  the  board  ;  dip  the 
soaped  flannel  into  the  brick-dust,  and  rub  it  on  to  the  knife.  When  clean  wash 
the  knives  in  a  jug  of  warm  water,  but  be  careful  not  to  let  it  touch  the  handle. 
This  method  saves  the  knives,  as  well  as  the  labor  of  cleansing  them. 

IIow  to  Mend  Old  Fails  and  Buckets. 

All  housekeepers  know  that  pails  are  forever  losing  their  handles,  and  those 
that  are  used  in  the  stables  and  barns,  are  especially  addicted  to  this  infirmity. 

Just  at  the  wrong  moment  the  handle  will  break  out,  and  although  the  bucket 
is  perfectly  good,  it  is  worthless  without  it,  and  one  cannot  be  readily  furnished 
either  by  the  farmer  or  hostler. 

But  whoever  possesses  an  old  boot-leg,  or  a  strip  of  harness-leather,  has  a 
remedy  close  at  hand,  as  they  can  be  cut  into  suitable  lengths,  and  holes 
punched  through  the  upper  part  of  the  strip,  which  will  hold  the  bale  firmly ; 
then  tack  the  leather  to  each  side  of  the  pail,  and  it  is  as  good  as  new.  If  the 
bale  is  lost,  an  old  piece  of  rope  can  be  substituted  for  it. 

By  this  simple  contrivance  butter  firkins  can  be  made  into  useful  pails  or 
buckets.  It  will  give  another  year's  wear  to  many  a  broken  pail,  and  prove  the 
truth  of  the  old  adage,  that  "..4  penny  saved  is  a  penny  earned." 

Mow  to  Dry  Herbs. 

Herbs,  when  hung  up  to  dry  in  loose  bundles,  will  soon  lose  their  odor. 
They  should  be  thinly  spread  out  on  newspapers,  in  a  warm  place,  but  shaded 
from  the  sun ;  and  when  well  dried,  pressed  together,  and  put  into  paper  bags. 
It  is  a  good  plan  to  strip  off  the  leaves,  and  rub  them  fine  through  a  sieve,  and 
put  into  wide-mouthed  bottles,  and  label  them.  Gather  them  just  before  they 
commence  to  flower. 

To  Make  Mats  from  Sheepskins. 

A  fresh  sheepskin  can  be  more  easily  prepared  than  one  that  is  a  little  dry. 
Make  a  strong  soap-suds,  then  let  the  water  cool  so  as  to  be  lukewarm.     In  the 


yo  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

mean  time  pick  out  all  the  dirt  from  the  wool  that  can  be  pulled  off.  Then  dip 
it  into  the  soap-suds,  and  scrub  the  wool  on  the  wash-board.  A  table-spoonful 
of  kerosene  added  to  three  gallons  of  the  suds  will  greatly  assist  you  in  making 
the  wool  soft  and  white.  Wash  in  another  suds,  and  change  the  water  again, 
if  the  wool  is  not  clean. 

Then  put  the  skin  into  cold  water  enough  to  cover  it,  and  dissolve  half  a 
pound  of  salt,  and  the  same  quantity  of  alum,  in  three  pints  of  boiling  water  ; 
pour  the  mixture  over  the  skin  side,  and  rinse  it  up  and  down  in  the  water. 
Let  it  soak  in  the  same  water  for  twelve  hours,  then  hang  it  over  a  fence  or 
strong  line  to  drain.  When  the  water  ceases  to  drip,  stretch  it  upon  a  board  to 
dry,  or  nail  it  on  the  wall  of  the  wood-house  or  barn,  wool  side  toward  the  board; 
when  nearly  dry,  rub  into  the  skin,  one  ounce  each  of  powdered  alum  and 
saltpetre  mixed  together;  if  the  skin  is  large,  use  double  the  quantity.  Rub  this 
in  for  an  hour ;  you  can  do  it  easier  by  putting  the  skin  on  to  a  table.  Then 
fold  the  skin  sides  together,  and  hang  it  away ;  do  this  for  three  days. 
Then  scrape  off  all  impurities  with  a  blunt  knife,  and  rub  the  skin  with  salt  and 
alum,  and  iu  a  week  or  two  it  is  ready  for  use. 

How  to  Hang  Pictures. 

Pictures  should  not  be  hung  higher  than  the  height  of  the  average  human 
eye,  when  the  owner  of  the  eye  is  standing.  It  is  the  almost  universal  rule,  in 
our  houses,  to  hang  pictures  much  above  this  level ;  and  to  enjoy  them  one  is 
obliged  to  look  upwards,  in  a  very  wearisome  manner. 

If  the  picture  is  a  portrait,  or  if  it  have  human  faces  in  it,  the  eyes  should  look 
as  nearly  into  ours  as  possible ;  and  if  there  be  no  such  simple  guide,  perhaps  a 
good  rule  will  be  to  have  the  line  that  divides  the  picture  horizontally  into 
equal  parts,  level  with  the  eye. 

If  one  starts  in  hanging  pictures  with  the  determination  to  place  them  so 
that  they  can  be  seen  easily,  and  enjoyed  without  stretching  the  neck  in  the 
least,  he  will  be  quite  sure  to  succeed  in  putting  them  in  a  good  position.  In 
country  taverns  and  farm-houses  we  often  see  pictures  skyed  as  high  as  if 
their  owners  had  been  Academy  hangers,  and  the  painters  young  rivals  of  a  new 
school.  "Very  likely  the  reason  is  that  the  picture  is  a  precious  possession,  and 
should  therefore  be  Ining,  securely,  out  of  the  reach  of  children's  hands,  or  those 
of  meddlers  who  desire  to  touch  everything  they  behold. 

But  as  people  learn  to  enjoy  pictures,  and  to  receive  spiritual  and  intellectual 
nourishment  from  them,  they  will  desire  to  have  them  where  they  can  be  the 
most  readily  seen. 

Newsjmjycru  for  Warin  Covering  for  Cold  Xights,  Etc. 

On  cold  nights,  when  the  bed  clothing  does  not  seem  sufficient,  you  can  adopt 
this  simple  plan,  and  find  decided  comfort  in  it. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  71 

Throw  off  the  counterpane,  and  spread  two  or  three  large  newspapers  over 
the  bed,  then  replace  the  cover. 

The  result  will  be  a  warm  and  comfortable  night,  without  any  perceptible 
weight  of  the  bedding. 

If  you  are  to  take  a  cold  ride  in  carriage  or  boat,  or  a  long  walk  against  the 
wind,  spread  a  newspaper  over  your  chest  before  you  button  up  your  overcoat, 
and  you  will  not  be  chilled  to  your  bones. 

Nothing  can  be  cheaper,  and  nothing  more  efficacious. 

If  your  feet  are  cold  during  the  day,  wrap  newspapers  tightly  outside  of  your 
stockings,  and  then  put  on  your  boots,  and  you  will  be  surprised  at  their 
warmth. 

When  the  mercury  falls  far  down  in  the  thermometer,  tuck  newspapers  be- 
hind the  plants  in  the  windows,  and  the  frost  will  not  harm  them. 

To  Transfer  Engravings  on   Wood. 

Varnish  the  wood  evenly  with  common  white  varnish,  such  as  is  often  called 
map  varnish.  Cut  off  the  margin  of  the  engravings  or  pictures,  which  should 
be  on  unsized  paper,  that  is,  paper  that  absorbs  water  like  blotting  paper.  AVet 
the  back  of  the  print  with  a  damp  sponge,  using  only  enough  water  to  saturate 
the  paper,  but  not  so  wet  as  to  moisten  the  printed  surface. 

Then,  with  a  flat  camel's  hair  brush,  give  it  a  coat  of  transfer  varnish,  which 
is  made  by  dissolving  copal  varnish  in  spirits  of  wine,  on  the  printed  side,  and 
apply  it  immediately,  varnished  side  downwards,  on  to  the  wood  work.  Place 
a  sheet  of  paper  over  it  and  press  it  down  with  the  hand  until  every  part 
adheres. 

Then  gently  rub  away  the  back  of  the  print  with  the  fingers,  till  nothing  but 
the  engraving  or  colors  remain.  It  may  need  to  be  wetted  again,  before  all  the. 
paper  can  be  removed,  but  if  it  is  too  wet  it  will  be  spoiled.  Great  care  is  needed 
in  this  operation  that  the  design  be  not  disturbed.  When  the  pulp  of  the  paper 
is  taken  off,  let  it  dry,  and  give  it  a  coat  of  the  spirits  of  wine  varnish,  and  it 
will  appear  as  if  printed  on  the  wood. 

IIoiv  to  Prevent  Cold  Feet. 

Draw  off  your  stockings,  when  retiring  at  night,  and  rub  your  ankles  and  feet 
■with  a  flesh  brush  or  with  your  hand,  as  hard  as  you  can  bear  the  pressure,  for 
ten  minutes,  and  you  will  never  complain  of  cold  feet  in  bed. 

It  is  hardly  conceivable  what  a  pleasurable  glow  such  a  rubbing  will 
produce. 

Frequent  bathing  of  the  feet  in  the  morning,  and  rubbing  them  thoroughly 
dry  with  a  coarse  linen  or  flannel  cloth,  is  also  very  useful  for  this  trouble. 

An  extra  sole  in  the  boot  or  shoe  is  also  desirable.  If  one  is  troubled 
with  cold  feet  during  the  day,  it  is  an  excellent  plan  to  scatter  red  pepper, 


72  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

(Cayenne,)  into  the  stockings,  not  letting  it  blister  the  feet,  but  only  warm 
the  skin. 

Cold  feet,  habitually,  is  one  of  the  sure  avenues  to  death,  and  care  should 
be  taken  to  keep  up  a  good  circulation  of  the  blood,  both  by  rubbing  and 
tonics. 

Hoiv  to  Ventilate  Booms  and  Large  Halls. 

Ventilation  is  not  so  difficult  a  matter  as  it  is  generally  imagined ;  but  for 
want  of  a  little  knowledge  on  the  subject,  many  serious  blunders  are  often  com- 
mitted. "Where  gas  or  kerosene  is  consumed  for  lighting  a  room,  a  large 
amount  of  carbonic  acid  and  water  is  generated,  and  this  takes  place  in  every 
lighted  room,  even  if  candles  are  used  alone.  And  the  result  is  this  :  The  hy- 
drogen of  the  gas,  or  oil,  unites  with  the  oxygen  of  the  air,  taking  eight  meas- 
ures of  oxygen  to  one  of  itself  to  form  nine  measures  of  water,  which  is  deposited 
on  the  windows  and  walls,  if  provision  is  not  made  for  its  escape ;  then  the  car- 
bon unites  with  a  portion  of  the  oxygen  to  form  carbonic  acid  gas,  by  weight  of 
the  carbon  combining  with  sixteen  parts  by  weight  of  oxygen. 

In  the  ventilation  of  large  rooms,  churches,  concert  halls,  etc.,  it  is  desirable 
to  have  shafts  to  admit  fresh  air,  and  escapes  for  the  foul  air.  A  plan  has  been 
introduced  of  late  years,  which  consists  in  admitting  a  current  of  fresh  air  at 
the  upper  part  on  one  side,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  wind ;  that  on  the 
right  of  the  room  entering  by  the  skirting-board,  which  is  pierced  with  small 
holes,  or  narrow  slits,  one-sixteenth  of  an  inch  in  width,  and  nearly  the  depth 
of  the  skirting;  and  that  on  the  left  passing  through  the  floor. 

The  outlet  for  the  vitiated  air  is  placed  in  the  center  of  the  ceiling  over 
the  chandeliers,  and  this  is  provided  with  a  valve  which  opens  upwards ;  above 
this  is  a  gas  light  which  rarifies  the  air,  and  so  draws  up  the  foul  air  from 
the  room  in  the  same  manner  that  a  cupping  glass  draws  the  blood  from  the 
body. 

The  chief  points  requiring  attention  in  ventilating  rooms  or  halls,  consists 
in  having  an  inlet  for  fresh  air  and  an  outlet  for  vitiated  air.  The  air  should 
be  admitted  as  fresh  and  pure  as  possible,  and  free  from  local  vitiations, 
such  as  drains,  smoke  of  manufactories,  and  the  like.  When  air  is  admitted 
into  a  room,  it  should  be  at  the  lowest  part,  and  the  aggregate  area  of  admis- 
sion, should  be  twice  as  great  as  that  of  the  outlet.  When  there  are  galleries 
in  a  hall,  church,  or  the  like,  they  should  be  supplied  with  fresh  air  from  the 
outside  of  the  building,  and  not  from  the  body  of  the  room.  Air  can  be  warmed 
when  admitted  into  a  large  hall,  by  making  it  pass 'over  pipes  filled  with  hot 
water.  All  ventilating  shafts,  or  chimneys,  should  be  as  smooth  inside  as  pos- 
sible, as  every  projection  impedes  the  currents  of  air. 

Ventilation  is  needed  even  in  stables  and  cow-houses,  and  the  want  of  this 
essential  preservation  of  health,  occasions  much  suiluriug,  both  mentally  and 
bodily. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  73 

Tlie  Fine  Art  of  Patching  and  Darning. 

To  patch ! — how  vulgar  a  term  it  is  thought  to  be  in  these  days  of  elegant 
wardrobes,  when  some  ladies  esteem  it  the  height  of  their  ambition  to  outshine 
their  neiglibors  in  exquisite  toilettes.  Yet  patching  is  an  operation  that  re- 
(luires  far  more  skill  than  does  the  making  of  a  new  garment,  and,  when  it  is 
well  done,  it  may  save  the  purchase  of  many  a  costly  one ;  for  the  most  expen- 
sive dress  may,  by  some  untoward  accident,  be  torn  or  defaced  badly,  the  first 
day  it  is  worn,  and  if  a  piece  can  be  inserted,  or  if  it  can  be  so  darned  that  it  is 
hardly  discernible,  it  will  be  a  great  saving  of  expense. 

If  the  material  is  striped  or  figured,  the  pattern  should  be  exactly  matched ; 
then  a  tiny  slit  must  be  made  in  each  corner,  £0  make  the  seam  lay  down  flat, 
and  there  must  not  be  the  least  approach  to  a  pucker;  and  the  kind  of  seam 
should  be  such  as  will  be  least  apparent ;  a  very  fine  running  stitch  is  the  best, 
if  no  wear  comes  upon  it.  Is  not  this  an  art  which  requires  both  teaching  and 
experience,  to  become  a  proficient  in  it? 

So  of  darning,  much  instruction  is  needful  as  to  the  number  of  threads  to  be 
left  by  the  needle,  according  to  the  kind  of  fabric ;  then  there  is  the  kind  of 
thread  or  yarn  most  suitable,  which  requires  some  experience  to  determine. 
When  the  article  is  coarse,  the  chief  attention  should  be  directed  to  expedition, 
but  a  costly  article  of  embroidery  on  muslin,  or  lace,  can  only  be  well  darned 
with  ravelings  of  the  same  muslin.  Such  particulars  do  not  come  to  a  girl  by 
inspiration,  but  they  must  be  taught,  or  left  to  be  acquired  by  dearly  bought 
experience. 

The  third  mode  of  repair  is  well  understood  and  practiced  by  the  French  and 
German  women,  though  rarely  in  this  country. 

To  be  able  to  darn  finely,  is  really  an  accomplishment,  and  the  various  stitches 
that  are  taught  by  fine  needle-women,  are  not  any  more  difficult  or  tedious  to 
execute,  than  any  kind  of  embroidery. 

The  stocking-stitch,  for  instance,  can  repair  the  finest  of  thread  or  silk 
stockings  perfectly.  And  if  a  lady  pays  four  or  five  dollars  for  a  handsome 
pair  of  stockings,  it  is  quite  essential  that  she  should  know  how  to  repair 
them. 

Practice  in  lace  stitches  is  also  desirable,  for  the  deficiency  of  a  single  loop, 
when  lace  is  washed,  often  makes  a  large  hole  during  the  operation,  and  the 
value  of  the  lace  is  destroyed. 

And  the  shawl-stitch,  by  using  it  with  ravelings  from  the  shawl  itself,  the 
most  costly  cashmere  can  be  repaired  without  a  possibility  of  discovering  the 
rent.  To  be  an  expert  in  such  useful  works  should  surely  merit  as  much  com- 
mendation, as  to  excel  in  crochet  or  fancy  work  of  any  kind. 

In  our  large  cities,  it  might  well  answer  to  establish  schools  where  the  art  of 
mending,  in  all  its  finest  as  well  as  plainest  branches,  should  be  the  chief  object 
of  instruction ;  and  three  months,  or  less,  of  lessons,  if  taken  two  or  three  times 


74  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

a  week,  -woukl  make  any  girl  an  adept  in  the  occupation,  if  she  were  a  good 
plain  needle-\Yoman  at  the  commencement. 

The  sewing-machines  have  not  been  a  blessing  to  the  rising  generation,  for 
young  girls  have  not  been  taught  to  hem,  fell,  and  sew  over  and  over,  as  were 
their  grandmothers  and  mothers.  Yet  without  a  practical  knowledge  of  these 
things,  no  lady  can  judge  whether  her  seamstress  has  done  a  reasonable  quan- 
tity of  sewing  in  a  given  time,  even  if  she  can  tell  whether  it  is  well  done.  And 
if  this  be  true  as  to  plain  sewiug,  it  is  still  more  applicable  to  mending  of  all 
kinds. 

To  Extract  Grease  Spots  from  Silhs,  3Iuslins,  Etc, 

Take  a  piece  of  French  chalk,  hold  it  over  the  spot,  and  scrape  a  little  of  it 
directly  upon  the  grease.  Then  hold  it  near  the  fire,  or  over  a  bowl  of  boiling 
water,  and  the  grease  will  become  softened,  and  absorbed  by  the  chalk,  brush 
or  rub  it  off,  repeat  if  it  is  not  all  extracted. 

Chlorofoim  will  also  remove  all  grease  spots.  • 

To  Clean  3Iarble, 

Take  two  parts  of  saleratus  or  common  soda ;  one  part  of  powdered  pumice- 
stone  ;  and  one  part  of  very  finely  powdered  chalk  ;  sift  them  all  together 
through  a  sieve,  and  mix  into  a  stiff  paste  with  water.  Rub  it  hard  all  over 
the  marble,  until  the  stains  are  removed. 

Then  wash  off  with  soap  and  water,  and  the  marble  will  be  beautifully  clean. 

To  Perfume  L,inen, 

Take  one  pound  of  rose  leaves  dried  in  the  shade ;  one  ounce  each  of  cloves, 
allspice,  and  caraway  seeds.  Grind  the  spices  fine  in  a  mortar,  add  a  quarter 
of  a  pound  of  best  table  salt,  mix  well  together,  and  put  into  little  bags,  and 
lay  them  in  the  linen  drawers. 

To  Remove  Ink  or  Fruit  Stains  from  the  Fingers. 

Take  half  an  ounce  of  salts  of  sorrel,  and  the  same  quantity  of  cream  of  tar- 
tar, both  powdered  fine,  mix  and  keep  in  a  bottle  tightly  corked.  This  is 
what  is  called  salts  of  lemon,  and  when  the  fingers  are  damp,  shake  a  little 
of  the  powder  upon  them,  and  rub  off  with  a  nail  brush. 

To  Prevent  Iron  and  Steel  from  Mnsting. 

Take  two  parts  of  the  chloride  of  iron,  the  crystallized ;  and  two  parts  of 
chloride  of  antimony,  and  one  part  of  gallic  acid;  and  dissolve  the  whole  into 
four  parts  of  water.  Give  the  iron  or  stef^l  two  separate  coatings  by  rubbing  it 
on  with  a  woolen  cloth,  and  dry  it  each  time  in  the  sun,  but  not  by  any  artificial 
heat. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  75 

"When  it  is  thoroughly  dried,  wasli  it  over  with  warm  water,  and  let  it  dry- 
again.  Tlieu  ill  twenty-four  hours  apply  linseed  oil,  well  boiled,  mixed  witli 
one  part  to  ten  of  turpentine. 

Let  this  dry  well  before  handling,  and  it  will  be  found  to  withstand  the  ac- 
tion of  moisture  and  dampness  ;  and  it  is  of  a  handsome  chocolate  brown  color. 

The  more  coats  that  are  applied  of  the  first  mixture,  the  deeper  will  be  the 
color  produced. 

For  machinery,  fences,  and  all  exposed  portions  of  steel  and  iron,  this  com- 
pound will  be  found  to  be  invaluable. 

To  Keep  Leather  Harnesses  Pliable. 

It  is  well-known  that  leather  articles  which  are  kept  in  stables  are  liable  to 
become  hardened  by  the  ammoniacal  exhalations,  which  not  only  affect  the 
harnesses  but  also  the  shoes  of  those  who  frequent  the  stables.  The  usual  ap- 
plications of  grease  will  not  always  prove  equal  to  meet  this  difficulty,  but  if  a 
small  quantity  of  glycerine  is  added  to  the  grease  spot,  the  leather  will  be  kept 
continually  in  a  soft  and  pliable  condition. 

To  Wash  Itibbons,  Silk  Handkerchiefs,  Etc. 

A  good  quality  of  satin  ribl)on  can  be  made  to  look  very  well  if  washed  first 
in  cold  water,  to  which  is  added  half  a  tea-spoonful  of  alcohol ;  then  a  weak 
lather  made  of  lukewarm  water  and  white  soap ;  afterward  rinse  in  cold  water, 
pull  even,  and  dry  gradually.  To  iron  the  ribbon,  lay  it  within  a  sheet  of  clear, 
smooth  letter  paper,  and  press  it  with  a  moderately  heated  iron,  moved  over  it 
quickly.  If  the  color  is  lilac,  add  a  little  dissolved  pearlash  to  the  rinsing 
water.  If  gi-een,  a  little  vinegar.  If  pink  or  blue,  a  few  drops  of  oil  of  vitriol. 
If  yellow,  a  little  of  the  tinctui-e  of  saffron. 

Other  colors  can  be  set  by  stirring  a  tea-spoonful  of  ox-gall  into  the  first 
water.  If  white,  a  salt-spoonful  of  cream  of  tartar  should  be  mixed  with  the 
socip-suds. 

Silk  handkerchiefs  and  scarfs  can  be  washed  and  ironed  in  the  same  manner. 
If  the  colors  are  delicate,  use  only  the  alcohol  and  the  ox-gall. 

The  proportion  of  alcohol  is  about  a  table-spoonful  to  a  gallon  of  water. 

Cement  for  the  Mouths  of  Corked  Bottles. 

Melt  together  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  sealing-wax,  the  same  quantity  of  resin, 
and  two  ounces  of  bees-wax. 

When  it  froths  stir  it  with  a  tallow  candle.  As  soon  as  it  becomes  liquid, 
dip  into  it  the  mouths  of  the  corked  bottles. 

This  is  the  very  best  way  to  exclude  the  air  from  such  liquids  as  are  injured  by 
being  exposed  to  it. 


76  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES, 

A  good  cement  for  bottles  and  jars  can  be  made  by  melting  half  a  pound  of 
tallow,  with  quarter  of  a  pound  of  resin,  and  proceed  as  above. 

How  to  Pack  Household  Articles. 

In  packing  for  removal  to  a  distant  place,  let  all  the  boxes  and  trunks  be 
numbered,  and  the  numbers  written  down  on  a  sheet  of  paper. 

Some  one  person  should  superintend  the  whole  of  the  packing,  and  keeji  an 
exact  account  of  every  article,  and  also  of  the  box  or  trunk  in  which  it  is  packed, 
and  the  order  in  which  they  are  placed. 

It  will  be  found  to  be  of  great  assistance  in  unpacking,  for  by  consulting  the 
list  you  will  readily  find  whatever  you  desire,  and  will  know  exactly  which  one 
of  the  packing  cases  should  be  opened  first. 

If  you  are  going  to  take  a  long  sea  voyage,  this  method  of  packing  will  be 
found  very  convenient,  for  if  you  need  any  particular  article,  a  glance  at  your 
list  will  inform  you  in  which  trunk  it  will  be  found. 

If  the  list  is  kept  in  a  little  blank  book,  it  will  be  more  easily  procured  when 
needed. 

To  Wash  Vials. 

Put  a  quart  or  more  of  fresh  ashes  into  an  iron  kettle,  and  pour  over  it  a 
gallon  of  cold  water.  Put  it  over  the  fire,  lay  in  the  vials,  mouths  downward, 
and  let  it  gradually  heat  to  a  boiling  point.  After  it  has  boiled  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes  take  off  the  kettle,  and  set  it  aside  until  nearly  or  quite  cold. 

Then  take  out  the  vials,  and  rinse  in  cold  water,  and  drain,  wiping  dry  the 
outsides. 

Black  glass  bottles  can  be  cleansed  in  the  same  manner.  If  you  desire  to 
cleanse  a  single  vial,  put  into  it  a  little  pinch  of  saleratus,  and  then  turn  in 
with  a  funnel,  some  warm  water  and  shake  it  violently  ;  let  it  stand  awhile,  then 
turn  out,  and  rinse  in  warm  water.  If  it  still  has  a  bad  odor  repeat  the  oper- 
ation. 

To  Clean  Silk  of  all  Kinds. 

Pare  and  slice  or  grate  fine  three  potatoes  that  have  been  well  washed.  Pour 
over  them  half  a  pint  of  boiling  water,  and  let  it  stand  until  cold.  Strain  off 
the  water,  and  add  an  equal  quantity  of  spirits  of  wine. 

Sponge  the  silk  on  the  right  side  with  the  mixture,  rubbing  it  hard,  and 
when  half  dry,  iron  it  on  the  wrong  side,  putting  a  piece  of  thin  tissue  paper 
over  the  silk  to  keep  the  iron  from  making  it  shine. 

By  this  process  the  most  delicately  colored  silks  can  be  cleaned,  and  made  to 
look  like  new. 

To  Iron  Velvet. 

Place  a  towel  of  several  thicknesses,  thoroughly  wetted,  over  the  heated  side  of 
a  smoothing  iron.     Lay  over  it  the  wrong  side  of  the  velvet,  and  pass  a  small 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  77 

whisk  brush,  such  as  is  used  to  brush  and  dust  velvet  and  crape,  over  the  pile, 
until  the  surface  is  smooth  and  looks  fresh. 


To  Jtenew  Scorched  or  Browned  Linen, 

It  is  not  an  easy  thing  to  take  out  stains  made  by  scorching  hot  flat- irons, 
and  often  garments  are  entirely  ruined  by  them,  but  the  following  piocess  is 
more  successful  than  any  other  yet  known.  Take  a  quart  of  vinegar,  and  boil 
it  with  half  a  dozen  large  onions,  for  half  an  hour.  Strain  off  the  liquor,  and 
add  to  it  a  large  table-spoonful  of  bar  soap  scraped  up  fine,  a  quarter  of  a  pound 
of  Fullers'  earth,  one  table-spoonful  of  slacked  lime,  and  one  of  saleratus. 
Mix  all  these  ingredients  together,  and  turn  the  vinegar  over  them  slowly,  then 
boil  the  mixture  until  it  is  ciuite  thick ;  and  lay  it  over  the  scorched  part. 
Then  put  the  article  in  the  sun,  and  as  the  paste  dries,  wet  it  with  a  little  water. 
Thus  treated  the  stain  often  disappears  in  a  few  hours,  but  if  not,  repeat  the 
process. 

To  Clean  Jajjanned  Waiters,  Urns,  Etc. 

Rub  on,  with  a  sponge,  a  little  white  soap,  and  some  lukewarm  water,  and 
wash  the  waiter  or  urn  until  quite  clean.  Never  use  hot  water,  as  it  will  cause 
the  Japan  varnish  to  scale  off.  Having  wiped  it  dry,  sprinkle  a  little  flour  over 
it ;  let  it  stand  awhile,  and  then  wipe  it  off  with  a  soft  bit  of  flannel,  and  polish 
it  with  the  flannel,  or  with  a  silk  handkerchief. 

If  there  are  white  heat  marks  on  the  waiters,  you  will  hardly  be  able  to  re- 
move them  entirely,  but  you  can  rub  them  with  sweet  oil  and  a  piece  of  flannel, 
and  then  put  on  a  little  spirits  of  wine. 

Papier  mache  waiters,  and  all  articles  of  similar  manufacture,  should  be  first 
washed  with  a  sponge  and  cold  water,  without  soap,  and  then  sprinkle  flour 
over  them,  while  damp,  and  in  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  rub  it  off,  and  polish  by 
hard  rubbing. 

To  Hcinove  Blade  Stains  from  the  SIcin, 

Take  half  an  ounce  of  oxalic  acid,  and  half  an  ounce  of  cream  of  tartar ;  mix 
and  pulverize  to  the  finest  powder,  and  put  into  a  glass  bottle  labeled  "  Poison." 

When  the  skin  has  been  discolored  from  wearing  black  crape,  or  other  arti- 
cles of  mourning,  dip  the  corner  of  a  towel  into  a  little  water,  sprinkle  on  a  little 
of  the  mixture,  and  rub  it  on  the  place,  then  wash  it  off  at  once,  and  afterwards 
wash  with  soap  and  water,  and  the  black  stains  will  have  disappeared. 

This  mixture  will  also  remove  ink  stains,  and  all  other  spots  from  the  fingers, 
and  from  white  clothing  and  table  linen.  It  will  act  more  speedily  if  the  towel 
is  wetted  with  boiling  water. 

As  oxalic  acid  is  a  deadly  poison,  care  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  bottle  out 
of  the  way  of  children. 


78  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

The  Uses  of  A  nan  out  a  in  the  Household. 

No  housekeeper  should  be  without  a  bottle  of  spirits  of  ammonia,  for  besides 
its  medical  value,  it  is  also  invaluable  for  many  household  purposes.  It  is 
nearly  as  useful  an  article,  for  all  cleansing  uses,  as  soap,  and  its  cheapness, 
brings  it  within  the  means  of  all. 

Turn  a  tea-spoonful  of  ammonia  into  a  quart  of  warm  soap-suds ;  dip  in  a  bit 
of  flannel,  and  wipe  off  the  grim,  and  smoke,  and  dust,  from  any  painted  wood- 
work, and  see  for  yourselves,  how  much  hard  labor  it  will  save  you,  for  you  do 
not  need  to  scrub  it  with  all  your  strength,  only  wipe  it  off. 

It  will  also  clean  and  brighten  silver  wonderfully.  Mix  a  tea-spoonful  of  the 
ammonia  with  a  pint  of  hot  suds;  dip  in  your  silver  forks  and  spoons,  rub  them 
with  a  soft  brush,  and  polish  with  a  chamois  skin,  and  you  will  use  it  weekly, 
if  not  oftener. 

For  washing  mirrors  and  windows  it  is  very  excellent.  Put  a  few  drops  of 
the  ammonia  upon  a  bit  of  newspaper,  and  you  can  rub  off  any  marks  upon  the 
glass  at  once. 

It  will  also  take  out  grease  spots  from  all  kinds  of  cloth.  ]\Iix  a  few  drops 
with  a  few  drops  of  water,  and  rub  gently  on  the  spot;  lay  a  blotting  paper 
over  the  place,  and  press  a  moderately  heated  flat-iron  upon  it,  and  it  will  dis- 
appear. A  few  drops  turned  upon  a  wetted  towel,  and  gently  pressed  upon  the 
edge  of  a  soiled  collar,  will  whiten  it. 

Then  it  is  a  most  refreshing  agent  for  the  toilette,  for  a  few  drops  in  a  basiu 
of  water,  will  remove  all  disagreeable  odors  of  the  skin.  If  a  tea-spoonful  is 
added  to  a  foot-bath,  it  will  take  away  all  unpleasantness  from  the  feet.  And 
there  is  nothing  better  for  cleansing  the  hair  from  dust  and  dandruff,  than  half 
a  tea-spoonful  of  ammonia  in  a  tea-cupful  of  warm  water. 

For  cleaning  hair  and  nail  brushes,  it  is  equally  good.  Put  a  tea-spoonful  of 
it  into  a  pint  of  warm  water,  and  dip  the  brushes  into  the  water  and  scrub  tliem 
well;  then  shake  out  until  nearly  diy,  and  put  into  the  sunshine.  The  most 
soiled  brush(>s  will  come  forth  from  such  a  bath  white  and  clean. 

For  medicinal  purposes  ammonia  is  much  used.  In  cases  of  severe  headache, 
it  will  prove  a  very  agreeable  remedy,  and  a  frequent  inhalation  of  its  pungent 
vapors,  will  often  cure  a  catarrhal  cold.  There  is  no  better  remedy  than  aro- 
matic spirits  of  ammonia  for  a  severe  cough.  Twenty  drops  of  it,  taken  in  a 
wine-glass  of  water,  will  fi-equ(Mitly  prove  of  great  relief.  It  is  also  a  good  rem- 
edy for  dyspepsia  and  heart-burn.  The  common  spirits  of  ammonia  can  be  used 
in  the  same  way,  but  it  is  not  as  palatable  as  the  aromatic  spirits. 

In  addition  to  all  these  uses,  ammonia  can  be  applied  to  vegetation  with  most 
beneficial  effects.  If  you  desire  to  make  your  roses,  fuchsias,  geraniums,  and 
carnations  blossom,  add  half  a  tea-spoonful  of  the  ammonia  to  every  pint  and  a 
half  of  warm  water,  and  sprinkle  them  with  it.  But  do  not  use  it  oftener  than 
twice  a  week. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  79 

Rain  water  is  impregnated  with  ammonia,  and  it  is  more  refreshing  and  in- 
vigorating tlian  sirring  water,  to  vegetable  life. 

Ammonia  should  always  be  kept  tightly  closed  with  a  glass  stopper,  as  it  is  so 
strong,  that  it  eats  away  a  cork. 

To  Make  Pomade, 

Those  of  our  lady  readers  who  cultivate  flowers,  can,  from  the  following  direc- 
tions, prepare  a  very  fragrant  pomade. 

Place  any  suitable  utensil  in  a  bowl  of  hot  water,  and  fill  it  with  ]nu-e  clari- 
fied fat,  either  well  boiled  lard  free  from  salt,  or  beef's  marrow  boiled  for  sev- 
eral hours  in  water,  and  then  strained  through  a  cloth. 

Keep  the  bowl  on  the  back  part  of  the  stove  or  range,  so  as  to  have  the  fat  in 
a  liquid  state  all  the  time,  but  not  boiling  hot.  Then  put  in  as  many  flowers 
and  leaves  as  you  can  fill  into  the  bowl,  and  let  them  remain  in  it  for  twenty- 
four  houi's,  and  strain  off  the  fat,  and  add  more  flowers.  Continue  this  process 
for  six  or  eight  days,  and  the  fat  will  be  highly  scented. 

If  you  desire  the  perfume  of  roses,  take  their  leaves,  or  those  of  the  tube-rose, 
mignonnette,  heliotrope,  etc.,  etc.,  using  only  one  kind  of  flower  for  one  dish  of 
fat. 

If  you  desire  it  in  a  liipiid  state,  cut  the  fat  with  alcohol. 

The  object  of  putting  the  vessel  containing  the  fat  into  the  bowl  of  water,  is 
to  prevent  the  fat  from  burning.  If  the  bowl  is  filled  with  fine  sand,  kept  well 
heated,  it  will  do  as  well,  if  not  better. 

fTavelle  Water  fov  Taking  Out  Stains, 

Javelle  water,  such  as  is  prepared  by  druggists,  can  be  easily  made  at  home, 
and  it  will  take  out  stains  from  both  linen  and  cotton. 

Take  one  pound  of  sal-soda,  and  five  or  six  cents  worth  of  chloride  of  lime ; 
put  them  in  an  earthen  bowl,  and  turn  over  them  two  quarts  of  boiling  hot 
water — the  softer  the  better — rain  water  is  the  best.  Let  it  settle,  then  pour 
off ;  bottle  and  keep  for  use.  It  will  remove  fruit  stains,  and  even  take  out  in- 
delible ink  spots.  When  used,  soak  the  stain  till  it  disappears.  Then  wash 
it  in  water. 

How  to  Extiiigaish  Clothes  on  Fire. 

Three  persons  out  of  four  will  rush  up  to  the  burning  individual,  and  com- 
mence to  tear  off  their  clothing  without  any  definite  aim,  and  call  for  water, 
without  effecting  any  good. 

The  only  way  is  to  take  any  woolen  material,  the  blanket  from  a  bod,  the  rug 
at  your  feet,  anything,  and  hold  the  corners  as  wide  apart  as  possible,  and  run 
up  to  the  sufferer  and  wrap  it  tightly  about  him,  folding  your  arms  close  about 
the  shoulders  or  limbs  where  the  fire  predominates.     This  will  instantly  smother 


8o  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

the  fire  and  save  the  face.  Then  throw  the  person  on  the  flooi",  and  the  rest  of 
the  flame  can  then  be  extinguished. 

Then  immerse  tlie  burned  surfaces  in  cold  water,  and  keep  them  closely  cov- 
ered with  wetted  bandages. 

Common  wheat  flour  should  then  be  sprinkled  over  the  burns,  to  the  thickness 
of  an  inch,  and  if  possible,  keep  the  patient  in  bed,  and  give  an  anodyne  of 
some  kind.  If  badly  burned,  by  all  means  send  for  a  physician,  for  the  shock 
to  the  nervous  system  may  be  greater  than  you  can  imagine. 

If  the  i:)h}'sician  is  not  needed,  let  the  flour  be  undisturbed  until  it  falls  off  cf 
itself,  when  a  new  skin  will  have  formed  under  it.  Unless  the  burns  are  very 
deep,  no  other  remedies  will  be  needed. 

Dry  flour,  for  burns,  is  the  most  excellent  remedy  ever  proposed,  and  every 
housewife  should  so  understand  it.  The  principle  of  its  action  is,  like  water,  it 
causes  relief  from  pain,  by  excluding  all  the  air  from  the  inflamed  surfaces. 

An  Excellent  Mecijie  for  TTJiitewasIi. 

The  following  ^recipe  for  whitewash  is  recommended  by  the  Scientific  Ameri- 
can, and  it  will  answer  for  wood,  brick,  stone,  or  mortar. 

Slack  about  one-half  a  bushel  of  fresh  lime,  with  boiling  water,  keeping  the 
pail  or  bucket  that  .contains  it  covered  during  the  process.  Strain  it,  and  add 
a  peck  of  salt  dissolved  in  warm  water,  three  pounds  of  ground  rice  that  has 
been  boiled  to  a  thin  paste,  one-half  a  j^ound  of  powdered  Spanish  whiting,  and 
one  pound  of  clear  glue,  dissolved  in  warm  water.  Mix  all  these  ingredients 
thoroughly  together,  and  let  the  mixture  stand  for  several  days.  Then  heat  it 
in  a  kettle  over  a  portable  furnace,  if  possible,  and  put  it  on  as  hot  as  it  can  be 
handled,  cither  with  whitewashers'  or  painters'  brushes. 

It  can  be  colored  yellow  with  chrome-yellow,  and  brown  with  Spanish  brown 
and  a  little  lamp  black. 

A  Good  Iteciiye  for  a  Cheap  Paint, 

Take  eleven  pounds  of  fresh,  dry  lime,  sifted  fine,  one  gallon  of  water,  two 
gallons  of  linseed  oil,  raw  or  boiled,  one-fourth  pound  of  potash  dissolved  in  a 
pint  of  water,  boiling  hot. 

First  mix  your  lime  and  water,  until  it  is  like  a  thick  hasty  pudding.  Then 
add  the  oil  and  potash  water. 

Stir  up  thoroughly,  and  if  the  oil  and  water  unite,  it  is  ready  for  use;  if  not, 
a  little  more  potash  water  should  be  added  to  cut  the  oil.  Use  no  more  potash 
than  is  needful  for  this  purpose.     Put  on  with  a  paint  brush,  like  other  paint. 

It  will  appear  much  thicker  than  common  oil  paint,  but  it  will  lay  on  better 
in  this  condition.  It  has  been  well  tried,  and  with  the  best  effects.  It  wears 
well,  and  will  cost  less  than  half  the  price  of  white  lead  paint. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  8i 

Don't  Borrow. 

A  housekeeper  can  cultivate  few  habits  that  are  worse  than  that  of  borrow- 
ing. It  is  a  practice  that  often  serves  to  destroy  pleasant  neighborlioods,  and 
in  the  end  breaks  up  friendslups.  "While,  if  a  little  fore-thought  is  practiced, 
there  will  be  no  need  of  sending  to  a  neighbor  for  anytliing.  Always  look  over 
the  pantry  and  store-room  in  the  morning,  directly  after  breakfast,  and  see  what 
things  are  needed  for  the  day.  Open  the  tea  canister  and  see  that  there  is  a 
good  supply,  look  into  the  coffee  can,  and  into  the  sugar  bucket,  the  saleratus 
jar,  the  salt  box,  and  so  on,  until  you  know  just  what  stores  are  running  low, 
and  make  a  memorandum  of  them,  and  see  that  they  are  obtained  before  the 
supply  is  wholly  exhausted. 

No  one  likes  to  be  constantly  asked  for  a  drawing  of  tea,  a  little  butter,  a  few 
slices  of  bi-ead,  a  cup  of  sugar,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  and  yet  no  lady  likes  to  refuse  to 
do  such  acts  of  neighborly  kindness.  Therefore,  never  put  your  neighbor's  good 
nature  to  any  such  test. 

Very  often  tlie  cook  is  the  borrower,  and  the  mistress  knows  nothing  about 
the  demands  that  are  made  upon  her  neighbors.  Therefore,  it  is  a  good  plan  to 
tell  your  servant  that  you  neither  borrow  nor  lend,  and  she  must  on  no  account 
go  to  a  neighbor's  without  your  knowledge,  nor  lend  to  any  one  without  your 
permission.     Then  you  alone  are  responsible  for  the  acts. 

We  have  known  of  a  lady  (?)  who  borrowed  a  velvet  dress  to  pattern  after, 
and  wore  it  to  a  party  before  she  returned  it. 

Iloiv  to  mahe  Otto  of  Moses, 

Fill  a  two-gallon,  glass  jar  with  clean,  freshly-picked  rose  leaves.  Then  take 
a  two-ounce  vial,  and  fit  it  inside  as  a  cork  for  the  jar.  Cut  some  sponge  into 
narrow  strips ;  soak  them  in  pure  olive  oil,  free  from  all  odor ;  put  them  into 
the  vial,  and  turn  it  into  the  neck  of  the  jar.  Place  them  in  the  sun  for  a  week 
or  so,  and  the  heat  will  distill  the  rose  leaves,  and  the  aroma  will  ascend  and 
saturate  the  oil  in  the  sponge.  Put  in  fresh  leaves  four  or  five  times,  and  you 
will  have  a  small  bottle  of  the  finest  otto  of  roses  that  can  be  made.  Be  sure  to 
keep  it  tightly  corked,  or  it  will  evaporate. 

How  to  Drive. 

]\Iost  drivers  over-drive.  They  attempt  too  much,  and  in  so  doing  distract  or 
hamper  the  horse.  Now  and  then  you  find  a  horse,  with  such  a  vicious  gait, 
that  his  speed  is  gotten  from  him  only  by  the  most  artificial  process;  but  such 
horses  are,  fortunately,  rare,  and  hence  the  style  of  management  required  can- 
not become  general. 

The  true  way  is  to  let  the  horse  drive  himself,  the  driver  doing  little  but  di- 
6 


82  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

recting  him,  and  giving  him  that  confidence  which  a  horse  alone  gets  in  him- 
self, when  he  feels  that  a  guide  and  friend  is  back  of  him. 

But  the  most  vicious  and  inexcusable  style  of  driving,  is  that  which  so  many 
drivers  adopt,  viz.,  wrapping  the  lines  around  either  hand,  and  pulling  tlie  horse 
backward  with  all  their  might  and  main,  so  that  the  horse,  in  point  of  fact,  pulls 
the  weight  back  of  him  with  his  mouth,  and  not  with  his  breast  and  shoulders. 
This  they  do  under  the  impression  that  such  a  dead  pull  is  needed  in  order  to 
"  steady  "  the  horse. 

The  fact  is,  with  rare  exceptions,  there  should  never  be  any  pull  upon  the 
horse  at  all.  A  steady  pressure  is  allowable,  probably  advisable,  but  anything 
beyond  this,  has  no  justification  in  nature  or  reason;  for  nature  suggests  the 
utmost  possible  freedom  of  action  of  head,  body  and  limbs,  in  order  that  the 
animal  may  attain  the  highest  rate  of  speed ;  and  reason  certainly  forbids  the 
supposition  that  by  the  bits,  and  not  by  the  breast-collar,  the  horse  is  to  draw 
the  weight  attached  to  it. 

In  speeding  my  horses,  I  very  seldom  grasp  the  lines  with  both  hands,  when 
the  road  is  straight  and  clear  from  obstructions.  The  lines  are  rarely  steadily 
taut,  but  held  in  easy  pliancy,  and  used  chiefly  to  shift  the  bit  in  the  animal's 
mouth,  and  by  this  motion  communicate  courage  and  confidence  to  him. 

Rev.  W.  H.  H.  Murray. 

Various  Styles  of  Draperies  for  Windows. 

Tasteful  and  inexpensive  styles  of  window  curtains  have  lately  been  intro- 
duced, that  will  gratify  the  aesthetic  tastes  of  those  housekeepers,  whose  incomes 
will  not  allow  them  to  indulge  in  ricli  tapestry  or  velvet  hangings.  It  is  pleas- 
ing, also,  to  see  a  cheaper  mode  of  decoration,  even  in  the  homes  of  the  wealthy, 
and  materials  which  were  formerly  never  supposed  suitable  for  window  drape- 
ries, are  now  employed  with  fine  effect. 

These  curtains  can  also  be  made  at  home,  and  each  lady  can  exercise  her  own 
taste  upon  their  manufacture,  and  strive  to  produce  original  designs  in  orna- 
menting them. 

Window  draperies  have  always  been  considered  desirable,  not  alone  for  their 
usefulness,  but  also  for  the  elegance  they  give  to  the  appearance  of  any  room; 
and  their  effectiveness  as  background  or  shadow  have  always  been  considered 
essential  to  its  completeness.  Tlie  harmony  of  color,  however,  should  be  as 
carefully  studied  in  tlie  matter  of  curtains,  as  in  the  toilette  of  a  modern  belle. 

We  do  not  know  what  ingenious  mind  first  suggested  the  nse  of  Turkish 
toweling  for  window  draperies,  but  it  has  been  the  fashion  for  several  years, 
by  the  aid  of  artistically  selected  shades  of  velvet,  brocade,  or  even  flannel, 
applied  in  bands,  or  by  rretonrte  embroidery,  to  cut  out  bright  flowers,  figures,  or 
birds,  from  handsome  French  crelnnnex,  and  apply  them  to  the  toweling  by  a 
button-hole  stitch,  worked  in  colored  silks  or  worsteds.  ■ 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  83 

The  curtains  are  banded  across  the  tops  and  bottoms,  and  the  bands  are  put 
on  with  feather-stitch  in  silks  or  worsteds  of  the  same  color  as  the  bands,  or  in 
contrasting  lines.  If  the  cretonne  is  used,  the  pieces  are  applied  either  all  over 
the  curtains,  or  in  set  figures,  wreaths,  or  vines,  down  the  center. 

The  toweling  can  be  obtained  either  in  single  or  double  widths,  and  it  is  so 
thick,  that  it  makes  most  desirable  draperies  for  winter;  while  lace  or  embroid- 
ered muslin  can  be  substituted  in  the  summer. 

Turkish  toweling  has  been  much  used,  also,  for  furniture  covering,  and  is 
worked,  not  only  with  applique  figures,  that  conn!  ready  stamped  for  the  pur- 
pose, but  also  with  colored  worsted  braids,  applied  with  a  button-hole  stitch  in 
gold  colonul  silk. 

For  carriage  blankets  it  is  also  much  in  vogue,  and  it  can  be  lined,  if  desired, 
with  a  bright  colored  flannel,  or  farmer's  satin. 

Gray  table  damask,  in  two  colors,  that  is  woven  in  diamonds  or  checks,  with 
stars,  flowers,  or  butterflies,  woven  in  each  division,  has  been  extensively  used, 
of  late,  for  tidies  and  small  table-cloths ;  the  figures  being  worked  in  long 
stitch,  with  bright  colored  worsteds,  mixed  with-  black,  to  set  off  the  lighter 
shades,  and  crossed  over  with  gold  colored  floss,  and  the  dividing  lines  chain- 
stitched  with  black,  and  at  the  corners  crossed  with  the  floss. 

But  now  a  still  more  desirable  use  for  the  damask  has  been  invented,  for  the 
three  yards  width  goods  can  be  made  up  into  really  beautiful  window  curtains. 
Divide  the  damask  by  cutting  it  through  the  seam,  allowing  enough  for  each 
curtain  to  hang,  either  straight  to  the  floor,  and  rest  upon  it  a  little,  or  else  to 
be  looped  up  a  little. 

Put  a  hem  border  of  a  stripe  of  red  and  white  table  damask,  which  can  be 
used  as  trimming  very  effectively  ;  or  put  a  hem  border  of  colored  canton  flan- 
nel, or  of  Turkey  red,  or  of  French  blue  percale. 

Then  embroider  the  lower  and  upper  part  of  the  curtains  in  a  wide  band,  in 
the  same  manner  that  the  tidies  are  worked,  and  edge  the  bands  with  narrow 
strips  of  cashmere,  red,  blue,  maroon,  or  green,  or,  if  you  wish,  with  stripes  of 
velvet  or  velveteen.  Cut  them  so  as  to  be  three  inches  in  width  when  stitched 
on  with  a  sewing  machine. 

When  finished  the  effect  is  really  charming,  and  a  set  of  curtains  worked  in 
this  manner,  will  give  an  attractive  air  to  the  plainest  of  apartments.  These 
curtains  can  be  procured  at  the  upholsterers,  but  they  are  expensive,  while  any 
lady  of  leisure  can  easily  make  them  at  home. 

Burlaps,  or  the  newly  invented  styles  of  manila  cloths,  make  very  pretty 
curtains,  and  they  can  also  be  worked  in  worsteds  in  various  pleasing  designs. 

Borders  can  be  worked  in  the  same  manner  as  the  bed-room  mats,  that  are  so 
fashionable  at  present,  and  the  edges  can  be  fringed  out,  and  worked  in  with 
colored  worsteds. 

Beautiful  curtains  can  also  be  made  of  unbleached  muslin,  or  cotton,  as  we 
style  the  cloth  at  the  north.     It  may  seem  absurd  to  employ  such  common  ma- 


84  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

terial  for  this  purpose,  but  it  needs  only  to  be  seen  to  be  highly  appreciated,  and 
any  prejudice  against  it  will  be  quickly  effaced. 

At  the  large  upholstering  establishments  in  the  cities,  these  curtains  can  be 
found  trimmed  with  colored  velvets,  cashmeres,  flannels,  or  percales  and  Turkey 
red  cotton.  Indeed,  anything  that  is  bright  and  pretty  in  hue,  can  be  used  for 
trimming  them. 

A  nice  piece  of  unbleached  cotton,  from  one  yard  to  one  and  a  quarter,  or 
half,  in  width,  should  be  purchased,  and  a  cheaper  kind  can  be  used  for  linings 
if  desired.  The  ten-quarters  width  can  also  be  used,  and  torn  down  the  mid- 
dle for  the  separate  breadths.  Allow  as  many  yards  as  are  needed  to  drape  the 
windows  gracefullj'. 

Then,  if  you  take  flannel,  which  is  much  used  on  them,  you  can  purchase 
scarlet,  and  navy  blue,  or  dark  brown,  and  yellow  shades,  and  cut  them  into 
strips  of  an  eighth  of  a  yard  in  width,  and  baste  them  across  the  curtain  about 
three-eighths  of  a  yard  above  the  hem  at  the  bottom.  The  strips  run  across  the 
curtains  at  the  top  and  at  the  bottom,  leaving  about  an  inch  or  two  between 
each  strip.  Cut  the  strips  lengthwise  of  the  material,  to  avoid  seams.  Put 
the  upper  strips  a  quarter  of  a  yard  below  the  coi'nice  or  top  of  the  curtains. 
Finish  the  edges  with  rows  of  feather  stitch  in  black,  deep  green,  or  a  pale  sal- 
mon color,  or  else  stitch  them  on  with  the  sewing-machine,  which,  although  it 
is  not  nearly  as  pretty,  can  be  done  much  more  expeditiously. 

The  most  elaborate  way  of  making  up  these  curtains,  is  to  plait  the  material, 
after  it  has  been  ornamented,  lined,  and  bound  on  the  edge  with  the  brightest 
color,  upon  each  side  of  the  cornice,  and  in  the  center  hang  a  piece  two  yards  long 
and  one  yard  wide,  trimmed  with  narrower  bands  of  the  colors,  plaiting  it  in 
deep  box  plaits.  This  must  be  fastened  to  the  cornice  first,  or  if  black  walnut 
poles  are  used,  it  must  be  hung  upon  them  by  means  of  large  rings  of  the  same 
material,  and  then  the  side  curtains  can  be  hung  under  the  drapery,  and  need 
not  be  looped  back,  unless  it  be  more  desirable  to  do  so. 

Colored  canton  flannels,  in  handsome  shades  of  brown,  blue,  and  crimson,  can 
also  be  used  with  good  effect,  upon  unbleached  cotton,  and  the  shaggy  side  be 
put  on  for  the  right  side.  They  can  be  feather-stitched  on,  either  with  black, 
or  yellow,  worsteds  or  flosses.  Broader  bands  and  less  in  number,  can  be  used 
if  preferred. 

Fringes  can  also  be  sewn  upon  the  upper  bands,  and  they  are  much  used  by 
the  upholsterers  for  this  purpose. 

The  pretty  glazed  chintz  and  cretonnes  which  come  in  handsome  stripes  of 
flowers,  or  patterns  of  various  devices,  can  also  be  put  on  in  bands,  across  the 
top  and  bottom,  with  a  fluted  edge  up  and  down  the  sides ;  the  latter  can  be 
plaited  with  a  machine  plaiter,  and  then  stitched  on  to  the  cotton. 

Canton  flannel,  unbleached,  will  also  hang  very  prettily,  and  it  can  be  orna- 
mented with  flowers,  birds,  or  figures,  such  as  are  printed  on  cretonne,  and  if 
one  desires  to  do  the  work  expeditiously,  they  can,  after  being  artistically 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  85 

grouped,  be  covered  over  with  paste,  on  the  wrong  side,  and  then  pressed  on  to 
the  Canton  flannel,  with  a  moderately  hot  iron. 

When  this  kind  of  window  decoration  is  commenced,  various  designs  will 
present  themselves  to  the  tastefully  disposed,  and  you  will  be  surprised  at  the 
fine  effects  you  can  produce  from  materials  hitherto  considered  impracticable 
for  such  uses. 

A  soupcon  of  yellow,  mingled  with  crimson,  blue,  or  green,  either  as  a  button- 
holed stitch,  or  feather  stitch,  will  have  a  charming  effect ;  while  crimson  is  a 
warm  hue  that  is  always  good.  Very  fine  color  and  effect  can  thus  be  given  to 
apartments,  and  especially  to  bed-rooms,  by  these  simple  means ;  but  if  you 
take  the  paler  shades  of  pink,  blue,  and  Nile  green,  you  must  have  perfection 
in  furniture  and  pictures,  to  liarmonize  with  such  delicate  tints. 

Cornices  are  not  so  much  the  fashion  now,  as  poles  of  black  walnut,  or  pine 
stained  to  imitate  the  natural  wood,  with  rings  to  match,  running  over  them, 
upon  which  the  curtains  are  fastened.  Any  cai'penter  can  cut  the  poles  and 
turn  the  rings  for  you,  and  you  can  stain  or  oil  them  yourselves.  Or  you  can 
paint  the  poles  bright  vermilion,  or  a  dark  blue,  and  the  rings  in  the  same 
way. 

To  Destroy  Ant  Hills. 

The  following  method  of  destroying  ant  hills,  is  given  in  the  Revue  Ilorticole, 
as  having  proved  quite  successful : 

Take  two  ounces  of  soft  soap,  one  pound  of  common  potash,  and  one  quart 
and  half  a  pint  of  warm  water.  Boil  the  whole  together  for  half  ari  hour,  stir- 
ring it  up  occasionally.  Then  let  the  mixture  cool  a  little,  and  with  a  pointed 
stick  make  holes  here  and  there  where  the  soil  is  infested  by  the  ants,  but  at  a 
safe  distance  from  any  plants  that  may  be  growing  there,  to  avoid  the  chance  of 
injuring  them  with  the  hot  fluid.  Fill  up  the  holes  with  it,  and  you  will  not 
be  troubled  with  the  ants.  By  this  means  a  French  gardener  was  completely 
successful  in  ridding  his  melon  beds  of  these  troublesome  insects. 

To  Close  Cracks  in  Storesi 

"When  a  good  stove  becomes  cracked,  it  is  very  convenient  to  know  how  to 
mend  it,  and  we  are  assured  that  the  following  recipe  is  a  reliable  one : 

Sift  wood  ashes  through  a  fine  sieve,  and  add  to  thorn  equal  quantity  of  finely 
pulverized  clay,  and  a  little  fine  salt.  Moisten  this  mixture  with  enough  water 
to  make  a  stiff  paste,  and  put  it  into  the  cracks  with  a  small  pointed  stick. 
This  cement  will  not  peel  off  or  break  away,  and  will  grow  very  hard  and  firm 
when  the  stove  is  hot.  The  stove  must  be  cool  when  the  application  is  made. 
The  cement  can  also  be  used  in  setting  the  plates  of  a  stove,  or  in  fitting  stove- 
pipes, as  it  keeps  all  the  joints  perfectly  tight  and  secure. 


86  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

To  Meinove  Stains  front  Books. 

The  most  simple,  but  at  the  same  time  very  effectual  method  of  erasing  spots 
of  grease,  wax,  oil,  or  any  other  fat  substance,  is  by  washing  tlie  part  with  ether 
and  placing  it  between  blotting  paper ;  then  with  a  hot  iron  press  above  the 
stained  parts,  and  the  defects  will  be  speedily  removed. 

When  the  paper  is  disfigured  with  stains  of  iron,  it  may  be  perfectly  restored 
by  applying  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  potash,  and  afterwards  one  of  oxalic  acid. 
The  sulphate  extracts  from  the  iron  part  of  its  oxygen,  and  renders  it  soluble  in 
tlie  diluted  acid.  In  many  cases  where  stains  are  fresh,  a  little  spirits  of  wine 
will  remove  the  blemish. 

To  remove  spots  of  ink,  and  even  writing  itself,  salts  of  lemon  diluted  in  a 
little  water  may  be  applied  with  success,  and  after  a  few  minutes  wash  it  off  with 
pure  water. 

To  Clean  J^ooldng  Glasses. 

Take  a  clean  sponge  and  dip  it  slightly  into  water,  and  squeeze  it  as  dry  as 
possible;  then  dip  it  into  spirits  of  wine,  rub  it  over  the  glass,  dust  it  with  some 
powdered  blue  or  whiting  sifted  through  muslin.  Rub  it  off  lightly  and  quickly 
with  a  clean  cloth,  and  polish  it  with  a  silk  handkerchief.  If  the  glass  is  a 
large  one,  clean  half  of  it  at  a  time,  or  the  alcohol  will  dry  on  before  it  can  be 
rubbed  off. 

If  the  frames  are  gilded,  you  must  be  very  careful  not  to  touch  them,  as  it 
will  injure  the  gilding.  To  clean  such  frames,  rub  them  well  with  a  little  dry 
cotton  wool ;  this  will  take  off  the  dust  and  smoke  without  injury  to  them.  If 
gilt  frames  are  varnished,  they  can  be  wiped  over  with  weak  tea. 

To  3fa7kG  Hoofs  Wafer-proof. 

Various  preparations  have  been  made  to  render  leather  water-proof,  and  the 
following  is  an  excellent  mixture  : 

Melt  in  an  earthern  dish  half  a  pint  of  linseed  oil,  one  ounce  of  beeswax,  one 
ounce  of  oil  of  turpentine,  and  half  an  ounce  resin.  Saturate  the  boots  with 
this  composition,  and  they  will  be  not  only  impei'vious  to  the  wet,  but  also  plia- 
ble and  soft.  Boots  that  have  been  water-proofed  in  this  way  will  be  found  very 
useful  for  occasional  shooting  and  fishing  excursions,  but  for  every  day  wear 
they  are  considered  unwholesome,  on  account  of  confining  the  feet  too  closely. 
Yet  this  ol)jection  can  be  removed  by  wearing  cork  soles,  which  will  absorb  the 
moisture  of  the  feet. 

Castor  Oil  for  Harnesses,  Hoots,  Etc. 

Castor  oil  is  the  best  lubricating  oil  that  can  be  used  to  keep  harnesses,  boots, 
and  tlie  like,  in  an  oleaginous  condition.  It  can  be  applied  clear  and  without 
heat,  and  it  will  make  the  leather  soft,  smooth,  and  less  liable  to  absorb  moist- 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  87 

ure.     A  littlo  lamp-black  can  be  mixed  with  it  to  use  on  old  harnesses  and  boots, 
but  it  is  seldom  needed  for  new  leather,  as  the  oil  will  keep  the  leather  black. 

If  you  have  been  troubled  with  stiff,  cracked,  water-soaked  boots,  and  the 
leather  so  shrunken  and  rough  as  to  chafe  the  feet,  if  you  will  try  castor  oil  you 
will  be  surprised  at  its  efficacy.  Only  a  very  little  of  it  is  needed  ;  put  only  a 
drop  or  two  on  to  a  bit  of  flannel,  and  it  will  moisten  a  good  surface.  For  oil- 
ing wagons  and  buggies  it  is  excellent,  as  it  keeps  them  in  good  running  order 
for  a  longer  time  than  any  other  oil. 

East  Indian  Method  of  Cleaning  Silver, 

The  East  Indian  dealers  in  silver  ware,  never  apply  any  abrasive  substance  to 
it,  but  for  cleaning  all  kinds  of  plate,  even  the  most  delicate,  the  following 
method  is  employed  : 

Cut  some  large  juicy  lemons  into  thick  slices,  and  rub  the  articles  very  briskly 
with  them ;  then  cover  them,  in  a  pan,  with  the  slices  of  lemon,  and  let  them 
stand  two  or  three  hours.  Rinse  them  in  some  clear  water,  and  put  into  a  pan 
of  very  hot  soa^vsuds,  and  stir  them  about  in  it.  Take  out,  rinse  in  clear  hot 
water,  dry  off,  and  finish  by  rubbing  with  a  chamois  skin. 

Green  tamarind  pods  are  also  excellent  to  clean  gold  and  silver  jewelry,  and 
are  often  used  by  the  artisan  to  remove  oxides  and  firemarks.  Limes  are  also 
used  to  clean  handsome  gold  ornaments.  Cut  one  nearly  in  halves,  and  enclose 
the  ornaments;  then  shut  it  up  tightly  and  let  it  lie  for  a  few  hours.  Rinse  in 
hot  water,  wash  in  soaj^>-suds,  rinse  again,  and  rub  with  chamois. 

In  the  I)oot'-i/ard. 

Let  the  trees  or  shrubs  that  you  plant  in  your  dooi'-yard  be  in  proportion  to  its 
size.  Large,  tall-growing  trees,  are  entirely  out  of  place  in  a  small  enclosure ; 
and  if  they  are  planted  there,  in  a  very  few  years  you  will  be  tempted  to  cut 
them  down,  as  they  will  spoil  the  grass  by  their  shade,  and  also  prevent  the 
flowers  from  blossoming.  Therefore  one  must  determine  whether  they  will  sac- 
rifice these  desirabilities  to  the  large  trees,  for  you  cannot  have  them  both  in  a 
small  yard.  In  all  cases,  let  the  extent  of  your  grounds  determine  the  varieties 
and  qualities  of  the  trees  and  plants  that  ai-e  cultivated ;  and  do  not  crowd  them 
so  closely  that  nothing  can  grow  in  perfection.  An  artistic  and  elaborsfte  par- 
terre will  give  you  much  more  delight  than  a  grass  plot  or  a  group  of  evergreens. 

Directions  for  Jfltifeirashiiif/. 

The  return  of  Spring  makes  all  housekeepers  anxious  to  improve  their  siu"- 
roundings,  and  make  all  things  clean  and  sweet ;  and  in  this  endeavor  there  is 
no  way  in  Avhich  a  little  time  and  money  can  be  better  expended  than  in  white- 
washing, for  it  not  only  gives  a  fresh  effect  to  both  out-doors  and  in-doors,  but 
it  also  prevents  the  decay  of  fences  and  outhouses,  and  kills  the  vermin  which 


88  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

infest  both  poultry-houses  and  stables.  To  be  sure  it  does  not  last  as  long  as  a 
coat  of  paint,  but  neither  does  it  make  so  heavy  an  inroad  on  your  purses,  and 
as  it  is  very  cheaply  prepared,  and  easily  appUed,  it  can  be  used  much  ofteuer. 

The  following  recipe  for  whitewash  is  recommended  by  experts  in  the  busi- 
ness : 

Take  half  a  bushel  of  unslacked  lime,  and  slake  it  in  a  bucket  or  cask  with 
hot  water  or  skimmed  milk.  To  this  add  one-half  a  pound  of  whiting,  one 
pound  of  glue  dissolved  in  hot  water,  and  a  peck  of  salt  also  dissolved  in  water. 

For  laying  on  the  wash.  Fix  a  wire  across  the  pail  so  as  to  press  off  the 
whitewash  that  is  not  needed  on  the  brush,  as  it  is  lifted  from  the  pail;  and,  in 
addition  to  a  good  whitewash  brush  affixed  to  a  long  handle,  you  will  need  a 
good  sized  paint  brush  to  use  between  the  pickets  on  fences,  and  in  corners. 

Before  whitewashing  ceilings  and  walls,  they  should  have  the  smoke,  grime, 
and  cobwebs  all  wiped  off  carefully  with  a  broom  over  which  a  piece  of  thick  cot- 
ton cloth  has  been  pinned.  After  a  little  practice  any  one  can  become  a  skillful 
whitewasher.  To  be  sure  it  is  not  easy  work,  for  it  makes  the  wrists  and  neck 
ache  badly ;  but  persevere  in  the  undertaking,  and  you  will  be  rewarded  by  the 
great  improvement  it  will  produce  in  the  appearance  of  out-buildings,  fences,  etc. 

Take  only  a  small  quantity  at  a  time,  upon  the  brush,  and  be  careful  not  to 
let  it  drop  on  the  carpets.  Take  care  not  to  put  on  too  thick  a  coat  at  the  com- 
mencement, but  after  having  gone  over  the  ceiling  once  in  parallel  strokes,  let 
it  dry  well,  and  then  put  on  another  coat  crosswise.  A  good  workman  will  dip 
his  brush  into  the  pail  perpendicularly,  and  take  up  but  little  at  a  time,  and 
never  let  a  drop  fall. 

A  whitewash  that  will  produce  a  glossy  appearance,  and  will  not  rub  off  upon 
every  thing  that  comes  in  contact  with  it,  can  be  made  by  using  skimmed  milk, 
boiling  hot,  instead  of  water  for  slacking  the  lime,  and  making  it  of  proper 
thickness.     It  does  not  spread  well  if  it  is  not  thinly  prepared. 

When  a  ceiling  has  been  badly  blackened  it  is  well  to  add  a  little  dissolved 
indigo  to  the  whitewash,  as  the  bluish  shade  will  serve  to  hide  the  browned  sur- 
face. If  other  colors  than  white  are  needed,  they  can  be  made  by  adding  differ- 
ent pigments  to  the  whitewash.  For  stone  color,  use  four  pounds  of  raw  limber, 
and  two  pounds  of  latni>black  to  half  a  bushel  of  lime,  and  proceed  as  for  com- 
mon whitewash.  For  a  light  pink,  Spanish  brown  can  be  stirred  in  until  you 
have  the  desired  shade.  For  a  fawn  color,  add  one  pound  of  India  red,  four 
pounds  of  umber,  and  one  pound  of  lamp-black,  to  half  a  bushel  of  lime. 
Chrome  yellow  will  make  a  lemon-colored  wash. 

Calcimine, 

Calcimine  is  a  substitute  for  whitewash  that  is  thought  to  be  superior  for  nice 
work.  It  is  made  from  Paris  white  and  glue  sizing.  The  proportion  is  twenty 
pounds  of  Paris  white  to  one  pound  of  glue,  which  should  be  dissolved  in  boil- 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  89 

iiig  water,  and  added  to  the  whiting.  The  mixture  is  then  diluted  with  water 
until  of  a  creamy  thickness.  It  requires  a  little  practice  to  know  how  much 
water  is  needed,  and  it  is  best  to  try  a  little,  aiid  not  make  it  too  thin.  Calci- 
mine is  only  for  hard-finish. 

Some  Facts  About  Fermentation. 

The  minute  organisms  which  cause  fermentation  are  soft  and  wet;  moisture 
constitutes  the  greater  part  of  their  composition,  and  therefore,  in  a  dry  medium 
they  cannot  be  formed.  Applications  of  a  mere  drying  process  are  among  the 
most  important  agencies  for  preventing  fermentation.  Germs  of  decomposition 
or  putrefaction  may  be  present  in  fruit  or  vegetable  substances,  but  if  you  take 
away  the  greater  part  of  this  moisture,  you  will  make  the  substance  incapable 
of  decomposing.  Among  the  agents  which  are  desirable  for  that  purpose,  there 
are  some  which  abstract  the  water,  not  in  a  state  of  vapor,  but  in  the  liquid 
state.  For  instance,  if  we  put  a  piece  of  fresh  meat  in  contact  with  salt,  or  by 
rubbing  it  over  with  salt,  it  will  gradually  absorb  the  water.  When  fruit  and 
sugar  have  been  boiled  together,  it  will  keep  well  if  the  pots  are  fastened  up  air 
tight,  while  hot.  But  if  little  germs  from  the  air  fall  upon  it,  they  will  retain 
their  vitality,  and  will  soon  commence  to  form  what  is  called  mould,  which  is 
the  lowest  phase  of  vegetable  life.  But  if  the  germs  in  the  air  are  shut  in  at  a 
boiling  point,  they  will  be  destroyed,  and  fermentation  cannot  take  place. 

To  3Iake  Rugs  Out  of  Old  Carpets, 

No  matter  how  faded  or  worn  out  maybe  the  pieces  of  old  carpeting,  they  can 
be  turned  to  good  account  by  first  washing  them,  and  then  raveling  them  out, 
and  as  you  do  so  wind  it  into  a  ball.  If  the  colors  are  much  faded  and  dulled, 
purchase  some  scarlet,  blue  and  green  yarns  to  mingle  with,  and  enliven  them. 
Then  take  a  yard-stick,  and  wind  the  raveled  yarn  tightly  around  it,  inter- 
spersing it  with  a  little  red  and  green  all  the  way  through  ;  when  the  stick  is 
closely  covered,  commence  with  a  big  needle  threaded  in  the  yarn,  and  sew  over 
each  loop  to  hold  it  in  place ;  then  cut  it  open  on  the  outer  edge.  Proceed  in 
the  same  way,  making  stickful  after  stickful  of  what  looks  like  a  narrow  fringe, 
until  your  yarns  are  all  used  up,  and  you  have  a  large  basketful  of  the  fringes. 
A  piece  of  strong  crash  will  answer  best  for  a  foundation  of  the  rug,  and  after 
hemming  it  at  each  end,  begin  in  the  middle  with  a  tuft  of  the  brightest  colored 
yarns,  and  sew  the  rest  closely  around  it  until  the  crash  is  completely  covered 
with  the  tufted  lines.  It  can  be  made  of  a  circular  or  oblong  shape,  and  if  the 
tufts  are  not  even,  they  can  be  sheared  until  they  present  a  close  surface. 

These  mats  will  be  very  serviceable  for  bed-rooms,  and  will  wear  as  long  as  a 
piece  of  carpeting. 


go  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

IIonie-Made  Feather  Dusters. 

Very  useful  dusters  for  furniture,  wall-corners  and  cornices  can  be  made  out 
of  the  feathers  of  barn-yard  fowls. 

Select  the  prettiest  of  them,  and  put  them  into  a  large  pan,  in  a  moderately 
heated  oven,  for  a  few  hours,  so  as  to  heat  them  thoroughly,  but  not  bake  them. 
Then  run  a  needle  that  is  threaded  with  a  strong  twine  through  the  stems,  at 
the  end  of  the  feathered  part,  and  pound  th<?  quills  flat,  with  a  hammer,  so  that 
they  will  lie  closely  to  the  handle,  which  can  be  made  out  of  a  piece  of  an  old 
broom  stick,  whittled  into  grooves,  if  you  would  like  a  graduated  brush,  and 
then  painted  a  bright  red,  or  black,  or  brown.  Or  you  can  use  the  handles  of 
worn-out  hand-brushes.  Cover  one  end  of  the  handle  with  thick,  hot  glue,  and 
wind  the  feathers,  closely  strung  together,  about  the  stick,  commencing  at  the 
lowest  end.  Keep  the  glue-pot  boiling  hot,  and  as  you  wind  the  feathers  wet 
the  ends  thoroughly  with  the  glue,  so  that  they  will  stick  closely  to  each  other 
and  the  handle.  When  the  brush  is  of  the  size  you  desire,  cut  off  the  twine, 
and  wind  another  piece  of  it  tightly  around  the  quills,  gluing  it  firmly  down. 
Now  take,  a  piece  of  scarlet,  green  or  blue  enameled  cloth,  cut  one  edge  in 
points  or  small  scallops ;  fit  it  to  the  handle,  sewing  up  the  sides,  so  that  it  will 
go  over  it  easily,  and  cover  the  quills  of  the  feathers. 

Make  a  hole  with  a  gimlet  at  the  upper  end  of  the  handle,  and  put  in  a  string 
to  hang  up  the  duster,  and  you  will  be  greatly  pleased  with  your  work.  If  there 
are  any  worn-out  window  brushes,  you  can  turn  them  to  good  use,  by  pulling  or 
cutting  out  all  the  old  bristles,  and  filling  up  the  holes  with  bunches  of  feathers 
run  on  twine.  Cut  off  the  quill  ends,  and  cover  them  with  glue,  and  insert  into 
the  holes  and  fill  up  with  glue.  You  can  use  the  smaller  feathers  for  this  pur- 
pose with  excellent  effect. 

How  to  JRemove  Stains  from  Clothing,  Etc. 

Stains  upon  clothing,  table  linen,  etc.,  are  among  the  troublesome  happenings 
that  disturb  every  household ;  and  being  caused  by  different  substances,  they 
require  different  applications,  according  to  their  various  natures.  As  a  general 
thing,  those  made  by  acids  can  be  removed  by  alkali,  of  which  ammonia  in  a 
diluted  form  is  the  most  desirable.  Alkaline  stains,  on  the  contrary,  must  be 
treated  with  some  form  of  acid,  such  as  vinegar,  oxalic  acid,  salts  of  lemon,  etc. 
Fruit  and  wine  stains,  as  stated  elsewhere,  can  be  removed  by  immediate  appli- 
cation of  sadt,  which  should  be  rubbed  in  with  the  fingers,  and  then  washed  out 
with  boiling  water.     No  soap  should  be  ever  used,  as  it  fixes  the  color. 

JMilk  is  also  a  good  application,  but  if  the  stains  of  fruit  and  claret  are  fresh, 
salt  and  boiling  water  will  never  fail  to  extract  them.  Many  nice  housfkepers, 
in  the  fruit  season,  give  orders  to  the  washerwoman  to  scald  the  t.'d)l(vcl()th3 
and  napkins,  and  let  them  lie  in  tiie  boiling  water,  without  suds,  until  cooJ,  and 
then  tlicy  can  be  washed  in  the  usual  way,  without  any  feais  of  stains. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  91 

Turpcntino,  pitch  or  tar  can  bo  removed  by  saturating  tlie  spot  -witli  sweet 
oil,  or  a  little  clean  tallow  can  be  dropped  over  it  hot,  and  allowed  to  remain  for 
several  hours.  Scrape  it  off,  and  if  the  spot  is  still  seen,  repeat  the  process,  and 
afterwards  rub  it  with  spirits  of  wine. 

Spirits  of  turpentine  will  also  remove  all  spots  of  paint  that  have  not  become 
dried.  Ink  spots  instantly  saturated  with  milk  and  rubbed  hard  in  it,  can  be 
removed  without  injury  to  the  fabric.  It  can  be  used  either  sweet  or  sour,  but 
the  latter  is  preferable.  If  white  cotton  or  linen  becomes  spotted  with  ink,  dip 
it  into  a  cup  of  milk,  and  squeeze  it  repeatedly,  until  it  is  effaced;  rinse  it  out 
in  cold  water.  If  ink  is  spilled  on  to  the  carpet,  cover  the  spots  with  pepper 
and  salt,  rubbing  them  in  very  hard,  then  brush  it  all  up  in  a  dust  pan,  and  if 
the  stains  are  not  all  removed,  put  a  tea-spoonful  of  oxalic  acid  into  a  small 
cup  of  warm  water,  and  rub  it  up  with  a  piece  of  flannel ;  rinse  off  in  cold 
water. 

If  linen  or  cotton  become  scorched  in  ironing,  wet  the  places  at  once  in  hot 
soap-suds,  and  place  the  article  in  the  sun  until  it  becomes  bleached.  Or  dip 
the  spot  into  sour  milk,  and  let  it  remain  in  it  for  twenty-four  hours,  and  then 
-wash  as  usual.  If  the  scorching  is  not  too  deep,  butter-milk  will  efface  it  if  it 
is  rubbed  hard  in  it,  and  tlien  laid  in  the  sun. 

Oil  and  grease  spots  on  floors  or  carpets  can  be  covered  over  with  a  paste 
made  of  Fuller's  earth  and  water  ;  and  when  it  is  thoroughly  dried,  brush  it  off, 
and  renew  the  covering  if  the  grease  has  not  been  taken  out  entirely. 

Stains  of  hot  w-ater  on  varnished  tables  can  be  taken  out  by  rubbing  them 
over  with  a  little  sweet  oil,  and  then  wash  it  off  thoroughly  with  a  few  drops  of 
alcohol.  But  let  the  sweet  oil  stay  on  it  for  twenty-four  hours  before  applying 
the  spirits. 

Ink  spots  on  furniture  can  be  effaced  by  washing  them  with  diluted  oil  of 
vitriol — a  tea-spoonful  to  one  or  two  table-spoonfuls  of  water.  Apply  the  acid 
with  a  bit  of  flannel,  and  when  the  ink  is  gone,  polish  the  spot  with  a  little  oil. 

To  Oil  the  Boors,  Btc. 

Never  allow  a  door  to  creak  for  want  of  oil,  or  to  shut  so  hard  as  to  need  to 
be  slammed  to.  To  prevent  this  it  is  only  needful  to  dip  a  feather  into  a  little 
oil,  occasionally,  and  rub  every  part  of  the  hinges,  handles,  etc.,  and  swing  them 
backwards  and  forwards  until  not  the  least  sound  is  to  be  heard.  A  few  drops 
of  oil  will  make  a  great  difference  with  the  comfort  of  the  family  in  this  respect, 
and  the  doors  and  walls  will  last  much  longer  if  they  are  not  continually 
pounded  and  battered.  • 

If  your  scissors  cut  hard  put  the  feather  on  to  the  hinge,  or  pivot  upon  which 
they  turn ;  and  even  the  cutting  edges  can  be  improved  by  the  least  mite  of  oil 
being  passed  over  them. 


92  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

A  lierolving  Firc-Grate. 

A  revolving  fire-grate  has  been  invented  that  is  said  to  be  a  great  economizer 
of  fuel.  The  avoidance  of  the  usual  upright  draughts  of  air  has  the  effect  of 
throwing  almost  the  whole  of  the  heat  out  at  the  front  of  the  grate,  and  also 
of  preventing  the  fire  from  spreading  amongst  the  coals  below,  and  behind  the 
central  cylinder. 

The  combustion  is  so  gradual  that  the  grate,  once  filled,  does  not  require  to  be 
replenished  for  twelve  or  fourteen  hours,  the  fire  burning  clearly  for  the  whole 
of  that  time,  with  much  less  attention  than  is  the  case  with  a  common  grate. 

All  that  is  needful  is  to  occasionally  apply  the  lever  by  which  the  grate  is 
made  to  revolve,  so  that  as  the  live  coals  become  burned  out,  those  which  are 
not  yet  fully  ignited  can  supply  their  places. 

The  cost  of  construction  is  about  the  same  as  that  of  an  ordinary  grate ;  and, 
with  some  very  slight  alterations,  the  pi-inciple  can  be  applied  advantageously 
to  cooking  ranges,  as  well  as  to  hot-air  furnaces. 

Home  Interests, 

OUR    CHILDREN. 

The  children  are  the  most  beautiful  ornaments,  and  we  may  say  also,  the 
best  safeguards  of  human  life,  since  it  is  the  children,  who  give  to  home  its 
crowning  grace,  and  to  our  hearts  the  incentive  and  reward  of  affectionate  self- 
sacrifice. 

They  are  the  tender  and  unconscious  champions  of  human  nature,  and,  in  its 
own  despite,  save  it  from  confirmed  and  hopeless  disrepute.  In  their  innocence 
we  see  what  we  have  lost,  and  may  yet  regain.  In  their  confiding  faith  we  are 
taught  what  it  is  that  alone  can  compensate  for  our  ignorance  and  our  weak- 
ness. 

In  their  natural  and  spontaneous  love,  we  find  the  evidence  of  a  possibility  of 
the  soul  which  may  at  last  be  triumphant  over  groveling  hatreds.  In  their  sim- 
plicity of  taste,  and  its  easy  gratification,  we  discover  how  the  best  things  are 
nearest  to  us,  and  in  their  facile  methods  of  accommodating  themselves  to  the 
exigencies  of  life,  with  but  a  temporary  disturbance,  we  see  how  poor  and 
profitless  is  all  tlio  fn^t  and  worry,  with  which  we  weakly  combat  unpleasant 
episodes. 

The  dear  little  philosophers  1  The  involuntary  melodists,  singing  all  daylong 
like  the  Greek  grasshopper  1  The  tender  explorers  whose  every  hour  is  a  voyage 
of  discovery  into  new  Eldorados  I  The  engaging  bundles  of  whim  and  picjuant 
capi'^ce,  and  enchanting  waywardness. 

The  naturally  inspircid,  to  wliom  each  new  moment  is  a  fresh  revelation,  every 
sensation  a  sui'prise,  every  incident  an  event  for  wide-eyed  wonder  ! 

The  puzzling  repetitions  of  ourselves,  loved  as  we  were,  and  loving  as  we  did, 
reading  the  books  which  we  read,  and  revolting  in  an  amusingly  energetic  way 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  95 

at  tlie  same  discipline,  to  which,  alas  1  not  long  ago  we  also  wriggled  ineffectual 
protest. 

We  go  to  them  to  peruse  the  first  chapter  of  our  own  biography,  and  then, 
with  a  half  feeling  of  pain,  we  look  into  our  own  hearts  to  read  likewise  the  last 
chapters  of  their  own. 

Our  Boys. 

Boys  require  sympathy  and  appreciation.  They  will  not  ask  for  it ;  for  a 
boy  will  abide  by  the  way  he  is  treated  and  make  the  best  of  it,  but  he  starves 
for  kindness  and  praise  all  the  same. 

It  is  not  enough  to  give  them  food  and  clothes  and  schooling;  they  have  an 
inside  life  that  hungers  to  be  ministered  unto.  As  soon  as  they  begin  to  think, 
the  conflict  of  questions  and  passions  begins  in  their  souls,  and  their  minds  will 
question  you  upon  various  subjects.  Answer  their  questions — do  not  evade 
them,  no  matter  how  intricate  or  searching  they  may  be,  for  they  will  find  an 
answer  to  them  from  some  other  source,  that  may  not  I'iad  them  up  higher  in 
the  scale  of  existence.  The  way  of  the  world  with  boys  is  a  daily  astonislnnent 
to  us.  By  the  majority  of  parents,  at  least,  we  hope  that  they  are  taught  to 
cultivate  habits  of  economy,  and  to  control  their  appetites  and  passions,  but 
there  are  few  cases  where  they  are  kindly  counseled  and  warned  against  indulg- 
ing evil  desires. 

Mothers  should  obtain  the  confidence  of  their  boys,  so  tliat  they  will  come  to 
her  for  aid  and  guidance  upon  every  subject  in  life. 

Yet  this  is  rarely  so,  and  often  they  will  seem  to  have  nothing  in  common. 
The  mother  sliould  be  the  one  to  strengthen  and  uphold  her  boys,  and  to  call 
out  from  them  the  purest  and  highest  aspirations.  She  should  take  an  inter- 
est in  what  they  read,  and  ask  them  to  read  aloud  to  her  while  she  sews ;  she 
should  be  interested  in  all  their  hopes  and  plans,  and  teach  them  to  feel  that 
whatever  interests  and  excites  them  is  also  of  great  interest  to  her. 

She  should  prove  the  height  and  depth  of  their  nature;  learn  the  pitfalls 
ready  to  entrap  tliem,  and  make  them  understand  that  she  is  ever  ready  to  coun- 
sel, and  guide,  and  assist  them  in  every  undertaking. 

In  Sparta  the  women  were  put  through  the  same  gymnastic  drill  as  the  men, 
no  matter  how  trying  it  was  to  their  physique,  so  that  they  might  produce  a 
race  of  men  worthy  of  their  country. 

And  in  the  United  States  women  need  not  only  strength  of  body,  but  also 

strength  of  mind  and  soul,  so  that  their  sons  may  be  worthy  of  their  country — 

may  be  such 

"  Kings  as  make  crowns  look  wan." 

In  a  land  where  any  man  may  become  a  ruler,  it  behooves  the  mothers  to 
carefully  guide  her  sons,  in  every  phase  of  childhood  and  youth  ;  and  to  leave 
them  a  legacy  of  confidence  in  the  power  and  purity  of  women,  which  will  be  of 
more  value  to  them  iu  the  battle  of  life,  than  all  the  philosophy  of  the  schools. 


94  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

Siniplicifi/  in  Living. 

To  live  simply,  to  master  and  control  our  expenditures,  is  a  sore  need  for  all 
classes.  The  influences  which  surround  us,  the  habits  which  we  fall  into  as  a 
second  nature,  all  sway  us  in  the  same  dii'ection.  Every  family  and  every  class 
seem  to  have  caught  hold  of  the  skirts  of  the  one  above  it,  and  to  be  desperately 
holding  on. 

AVell,  as  Mr.  Goldwin  Smith  says,  the  best  thing  they  can  do  is  to  let  go ;  the 
only  thing,  indeed,  which  will  give  themselves  any  comfort,  or  make  their  lives 
of  real  use  in  their  generation. 

The  moment  they  will  do  this,  and  begin  resolutely  to  live  without  regard  to 
what  their  neighbor  on  the  right  or  left  spends  on  carriages  and  horses,  or  their 
neighbors  on  the  left  in  upholstery  and  dress,  they  will  find  themselves  rich 
enough  for  all  good  purposes. 

And  from  that  moment  it  can  no  longer  be  said  of  us  with  truth,  that  we 
dare  not  trust  our  wits  to  make  our  houses  pleasant,  and  so  we  buy  ice-creams  ; 
and  this  most  needed  of  all  reforms  is  just  the  one  which  every  soul  of  us  can 
carry  through  for  himself  or  herself. 

We  cannot  sweep  our  whole  streets,  but  every  one  of  us  can  sweep  our  own 
door-step,  and  if  we  will  do  it  quietly  and  regularly,  anon  our  right  and  left-hand 
neighbors  will  follow,  and  before  long  the  whole  street  will  be  swept. 

And  in  this  way,  and  by  this  means,  can  almost  all  these  social  tangles  be  set 
right. 

Simple  Living  !  That  is  what  the  necessities  of  the  times  demand,  and  when 
we  have  once  commenced  to  reform  our  liouseholds  to  this  code,  we  sliall  won- 
der that  we  ever  allowed  ourselves  to  be  the  slaves  of  such  customs  and  fashions. 

Modern  Cotnforts. 

It  would  do  those  people  good  who  are  always  wishing  for  the  good  old  times 
of  our  ancestors,  to  travel  back  a  few  hundred  years  and  see  in  what  respects 
they  differ  so  greatly.  The  chief  feature  of  modern  times,  and  one  which 
is  generally  overlooked,  is  the  adaptation  of  beauty  and  luxury  to  common 
life. 

The  day-laborer  has  a  breakfast  which  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  all  her  glory, 
could  not  have  obtained  ;  and  for  five  or  six  cents  he  can  ride  to  liis  work  in  an 
easier  and  more  luxurious  carriage  than  many  a  coach  that  was  the  pride  of 
royalty. 

Tea,  coffee,  sugar,  vegctabl(!S,  fresh  moats,  glass  windows,  white  undercloth- 
ing, and  even  the  common  use  of  soap  and  water  are  all  modern  luxuries.  So 
are  carpets,  stoves,  pictures,  and  all  the  labor-saving  machines,  and  the  comfort- 
producing  utensils  of  every  description  ;  so  about  all  our  books,  newspapers, 
magazines,  and  thousands  of  beautiful  things  in  industrial  and  art  life,  which 
tend  to  make  human  existence  more  attractive  and  enjoyable. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  95 

Oar  Jfomes. 

We  read  a  good  deal,  now-a-days,  about  its  being  the  duty  of  women  to  make 
home  attniotive  to  their  hu.sbauds,  and  it  is  said  that  all  the  petty  annoyances  of 
daily  life  should  be  kept  from  them,  and  they  should  find  the  home  in  lioliday 
attire,  antl  the  meals  all  ready,  when  they  return  from  their  business  avoca- 
tions. 

This  is  all  well  enough  if  it  only  could  be  carried  out,  and  when  it  is  practi- 
cable there  is  no  doubt  but  a  good  wife  would  make  it  her  crowning  pleasure  to 
have  everything  about  the  house  in  good  order,  and  herself  and  the  children 
neatly  dressed  to  receive  the  father  of  the  family.  But  is  there  not  another  side 
to  the  question  ?  And  when  we  speak  of  duty,  is  it  not  also  as  incumbent  upon 
the  husband  to  make  home  attractive  to  the  wife? 

Yet  this  is  a  phase  of  the  question  which  is  not  often  discussed  in  the  news- 
papers ;  and  there  is  a  tendency  among  men  in  general,  to  regard  home  as  a 
place  where  the  mask  of  politeness,  which  has  been  worn  all  day  in  their  busi- 
ness occupations,  can  be  cast  aside,  and  they  can  show  themselves  in  the  natu- 
ral man,  i.  e.,  can  exhibit  all  their  natural  vices,  and  not  restrain  themselves  in 
the  least.  As  the  head  of  the  family  they  think  that  the  ordering  of  its  affairs 
devolves  upon  them,  and  there  are  those  who  incline  to  pay  little  deference  to 
the  wishes  of  the  wife,  and  consult  their  own  convenience  and  pleasures  upon 
all  occasions.  Can  there  be  comfort  or  happiness  in  the  household  where  this 
state  of  affairs  exists  ? 

Can  the  wife  love  and  honor  the  husband  who  does  not  consult  her  tastes  or 
wishes,  even,  in  the  smallest  matters  of  the  family  arrangements  ?  Is  she  to  be 
contemned  if  she  takes  less  interest  in  his  comforts  and  pleasures,  and,  at 
length,  becomes  alienated  from  such  a  domestic  tyrant?  We  think  the  home 
should  always  be  under  the  direct  control  of  the  wife,  and  that  she  should  be 
allowed  to  order  all  the  details  connected  with  it;  but  the  husband  should  be 
willing  to  give  her  aid  and  counsel  in  its  affairs,  and  not  ridicule  and  tease  her 
concerning  matters  that  seem  to  him  too  trifling  to  be  discussed. 
^  Then  the  homestead  should  be  settled  upon  her,  so  that  she  can  feel  assured, 
no  matter  what  reverses  of  fortune  may  arise,  that  the  home  which  has  become 
sanctified  to  her  by  births  and  deaths,  and  the  associations  of  years,  will  be  her 
own. 

Every  woman  feels  that  this  is  her  right,  and  if  the  husband  can  purchase  a 
home,  it  is  as  much  for  his  interest  as  for  hers,  that  the  deeds  should  be  made 
out  in  her  name.  Then  she  can  adorn  and  ornament  both  the  house  and 
grounds  with  the  work  of  her  hands,  assui-ed  that  its  comforts  and  conveniences 
will  belong  to  the  family,  and  not  become  the  property  of  others,  without  her 
full  consent ;  and  she  would  strive  more  heartily  to  make  the  home  more  at- 
tractive, as  each  year  passed  by,  and  to  have  her  family  appreciate  its  charms 
more  highly. 


96  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

Make  the  House  Comfortable. 

There  are  thousands  of  homes  •where  the  inmates  are  exceedingly  uncomfort- 
able, simply  from  inattention  to  little  trifles.  We  have  no  patience  with  the 
housekeeper  who  will  let  the  windows  rattle  in  the  casements,  when  a  lath  or 
two,  a  hammer  and  a  few  nails,  and  a  little  putty,  could,  with  a  small  amount 
of  labor,  make  them  snug  and  comfortable,  both  in  summer  and  winter. 

We  fully  believe  in  thorough  ventilation,  but  it  should  be  under  control,  and 
not  applied  by  means  of  cracks  and  crevices. 

See  that  the  outside  door  fits  snugly.  An  outer  portable  house  inclosing 
the  most  exposed  door,  or  where  the  family  have  egress  and  ingress  most  fre- 
quenth',  is  also  a  great  comfort. 

A  damper  in  the  stove-pipe  will  prevent  the  heat  from  going  up  the  chimney, 
and  save  fuel  greatly.  Where  coal  is  used,  and  charcoal  not  easily  procured,  a 
barrel  of  dry  corn  cobs  will  be  a  great  addition  to  the  kindlings.  If  wood  is 
used,  see  that  the  wood-house  is  well  filled  with  dry  wood,  finely  split,  for  the 
stove,  and  that  there  are  always  kindlings  ready  for  use. 

A  comfortable  sitting-room  well-lighted,  and  supplied  with  good  books,  and 
useful  papers  and  magazines,  will  always  make  home  attractive  to  the  young 
folks. 

Give  the  family  good  beds,  and  nutritious  food  well  prepared,  and  pleasant 
evenings  at  home,  and  you  will  not  be  obliged  to  endure  the  heart-ache  because 
they  stray  from  the  fold  and  enter  into  evil  ways.  For  it  is  at  home  that  the 
character  should  be  formed,  and  the  future  usefulness  of  our  children  depends 
in  a  great  degree  upon  the  way  in  which  their  evenings  are  passed,  as  well  as 
their  days. 

Fun  at  Home, 

Don't  be  afraid  of  a  little  fun  at  home,  good  people,  no  matter  if  the  noise  is 
not  what  you  were  accustomed  to  hear  in  your  early  homes. 

Don't  shut  up  your  pleasantest  rooms,  and  keep  the  curtains  down  lest  the 
sun  should  fade  your  carpets,  and  spoil  your  furniture.  Don't  shut  up  your 
hearts,  either,  lest  a  laugh  should  shake  down  some  of  the  musty  old  cobwebs 
you  have  hung  around  it. 

If  you  desire  to  make  your  sons  seek  enjoyment  and  happiness  away  from 
you,  teach  them  that  all  mirth  and  joyousness  must  be  left  on  the  threshold 
when  they  return  from  school,  or  their  various  occupations.  When  they  have 
once  been  taught  to  feel  that  their  homes  are  only  a  place  in  which  to  eat,  drink 
and  sleep,  the  work  is  commenced  tliat  will  probably  end  in  their  degradation 
and  destruction.    ^For  young  people  must  have  fun  and  amusement  somewheie. 

It  is  as  natural  for  thom  to  dance  and  make  merry,  as  it  is  for  lambs  to  skip 
and  dance  in  the  green  fields  beside  their  sober,  woolly  mothers.  And  if  they 
cannot  find  these  pleasures  in  their  homes,  they  will  surely  seek  for  them  in 
questionable  places. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  97 

Thereforp,  let  us  beg  of  you  to  make  your  lioines  so  delightful  that  your  cliil- 
dren  cannot  1)0  tempted  to  stray  from  tht^m,  and  in  their  manhood  and  woman- 
hood ■will  always  look  back  to  their  childhood  as  the  happiest  time  oi  their 
existence. 

Don't  repress  their  buoyant  spirits  only  so  far  as  to  prevent  rudeness;  half 
an  hour's  fun  after  tea  will  send  them  to  bed  happy  and  rosy,  while  it  will  serve 
to  blot  out  tlie  little  annoyances  of  tlie  day  to  yourselves.  We  pity  the  mother 
who  cannot  find  time  to  play  with  lier  children,  and  despise  the  father  whose 
chief  pleasure  does  not  consist  in  making  them  hapx^y. 

A  Plea  for  Ojyen  Fires. 

In  every  household  there  should  be  some  arrangement  for  at  least  one  open 
fire-place,  where  either  wood  or  soft,  or  even  hard  coal  can  be  burned,  and  shed 
a  bright  blaze  around  the  room  "  ere  the  evening  lamps  are  lighted."  A  fire 
that  can  not  only  be  felt  but  also  seen.  A  cheerful,  bright  fire,  w  ith  a  brilliant 
shovel  and  tongs,  and  fender  too,  is  really  of  great  influence  in  the  deliglits  of 
the  home  circle.  Those  grim,  black,  sulphurous  flues,  often  filled  with  the  stale 
odors  of  the  cellar  and  hot-air  chamber,  and  seething  water  tank,  and  sending 
upwards  clouds  of  almost  imperceptible  ashes  to  stifle  your  breath,  and  blacken 
your  furniture  and  walls,  are  surely  one  of  the  greatest  detriments  tb  family 
enjoyment  and  comforts. 

It  is  very  desirable,  no  doubt,  to  have  your  house  well  warmed  from  top  to 
bottom,  and  to  have  no  w-ood,  coals  or  ashes  to  be  carried  about,  soiling  the  car- 
pets, and  making  extra  work ;  but  it  has  not  served  to  bring  families  together, 
into  one  room,  whose  attractions  surpassed  all  others  on  account  of  the  cheery 
comfort  of  its  fireside,  but  rather  to  throw  apart  the  inmates  of  the  house. 

And  alas  1  how  few  houses  can  boast  of  a  fireside — such  as  our  grandfathers 
enjoyed,  and  around  whose  cheerful  blaze  the  sweetest  associations  of  home  ever 
lingered. 

Don't  Sliut  Out  the  Sunshine, 

Seclusion  from  the  sunshine  is  one  of  the  misfortunes  of  civilization.  Xo 
matter  if  it  fades  your  elegant  carpets,  and  your  costly  draperies,  fasten  back 
the  blinds  and  draw  back  the  curtains,  and  let  its  pure,  serene  rays  flood  every 
part  of  the  house,  where  they  can  enter. 

The  reason  that  the  daughters  of  the  wealthy  are  so  pale  and  delicate,  is  that 
they  live  an  artificial  life,  sleeping  the  best  part  of  the  day,  and  shutting  out 
the  life-giving  rays  of  the  sun  from  their  apartments,  while  if  they  exposed 
themselves  to  its  direct  rays  daily,  they  -would  soon  begin  to  show  an  increase 
of  color,  health  and  strength. 

If  the  blue  glass  cure  can  only  be  brought  into  every  day  use  all  over  the 
Union,  it  would  doubtless  be  of  the  greatest  benefit,  because  the  blinds  would 
not  be  closed,  and  the  sun  excluded  so  persistently  from  the  apartments. 
7 


gS  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

The  sun-cure  has  been  practiced  in  England  for  several  years  past,  and  there 
are  establishments  there  which  have  acquired  a  wide  reputation  for  curing  those 
maladies  in  which  nervous  prostration  is  the  promoting  cause. 

The  slate,  or  shingled  roof  was  removed,  and  glass  was  substituted ;  and  the 
patient  had  a  little  apartment,  where  he  could  expose  his  body  to  the  direct 
influence  of  the  sun,  by  lying  on  a  lounge,  and  letting  it  fall  upon  all  parts  of 
the  body  in  turn. 

Quite  wonderful  cures  were  thus  effected ;  and  very  likely  the  blue  glass  dis- 
covery of  General  Pleasanton  will  give  a  new  impetus  to  this  method  of  restor- 
ing the  nervous  sufferer  to  health.  But  let  us  beg  those  of  our"  readers  who 
are  well  to  throw  open  their  windows  to  the  sun,  and  let  its  health-giving  rays 
perform  their  special  functions,  and  enliven  and  cheer  the  household. 

Be  Faithful  in  Little  Tilings. 

Let  us  always  remember  that  God  looks  in  our  actions,  only  for  the  motive. 
The  world  judges  us  by  appearances  ;  God  counts  for  nothing  that  which  is  most 
dazzling  to  men.  What  He  desires  is  a  pure  intention,  true  docility,  and  a  sincere 
self-renunciation.  All  this  is  exercised  more  frequently,  and  in  a  way  that  tries 
us  more  severely  on  common  than  on  great  occasions,  and  sometimes  we  cling 
more  tenaciously  to  a  trifle  than  to  a  great  interest ;  and  it  would  give  no  more 
pain  to  relinquish  an  amusement,  than  to  bestow  a  great  sum  in  charity.  We 
are  more  easily  led  away  by  little  things,  beca,use  we  believe  them  more  inno- 
cent, and  imagine  that  we  are  less  attached  to  them ;  nevertheless,  wlien  God 
deprives  us  of  them,  we  soon  discover,  from  the  pain  of  privation,  how  exces- 
sive and  inexcusable  was  our  attachment  to  them.  The  sincerity  of  our  piety 
is,  also,  impeached,  by  the  neglect  of  minor  duties.  AVhat  probability  is  there 
that  we  should  not  hesitate  to  make  great  sacrifices,  when  we  shrink  from  slight 
ones? 

But  what  is  most  dangerous  to  the  mind  is  the  habit  it  acquires  of  unfaith- 
fulness. True  love  to  God  thinks  nothing  small.  All  that  can  please  or  dis- 
please Ilim  is  great.  It  does  not  produce  constraint  and  weak  scruples,  but  it 
places  no  limits  to  its  fidelity  ;  it  acts  with  simplicity,  and,  as  it  is  not  embarrassed 
with  things  that  God  has  not  commanded,  it  never  hesitates  a  moment  about 
what  lie  does  command,  whether  it  be  great  or  smaW.—Fenelon. 

Comfort  in  Sleeping- Booms. 

Good  ventilation  is  the  chief  requisite  in  every  sleeping-room ;  and  yet  it  is 
a  condition  that  is  not  always  attained  to,  even  in  the  houses  of  the  rich  ;  while 
in  the  country,  where  pure  air  ouglit  surely  to  be  found,  if  anywhere,  visitors 
shrug  their  shoulders  at  tlie  vitiated  atmosphere  that  abounds  in  the  "best 
rooms." 

And  it  is  true  that  you  rarely  find,  in  the  country,  a  large  old-fashioned  cham- 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  99 

bor  redolent  with  the  sweetness  that  sunshine  and  fresh  air  only  can  produce. 
To  be  sure,  the  room  may  be  well-furnished  with  articles  of  refinement,  etc.,  but 
purity  of  atmosphere,  its  chief  essential,  and  seemingly  the  cheapest  thing  in 
the  world,  will  not  bo  often  mot  with. 

There  is  a  dainimoss  and  inouldiness  that  infects  the  air  of  unused  chambers 
in  hundreds  of  wcll-f  iirnished  houses,  that  is  simply  intolerable  to  those  who  are 
accustomed  to  fresh  and  ch'au  apartments. 

When  chambers  are  swept,  it  is  a  good  plan,  every  two  or  three  weeks,  to  wipe 
the  dust  from  the  carpets  with  a  dampened  cloth  or  mop,  and  always  to  dust  the 
furniture  with  a  damp  cloth,  so  as  not  to  throw  the  dust  ufion  some  other  article, 
but  wipe  it  up.  The  dust  of  bedrooms  is  said  to  abound  in  exhalations  of  the 
body,  thrown  off  upon  the  bedclothing;  and  the  mouth  should  always  be  kept 
tightly  closed  while  making  the  beds,  so  as  not  to  inhale  them. 

Moderately  warmed  sleeping-rooms  are  a  great  addition  to  personal  comfort, 
and  there  is  no  surer  avenue  to  the  grave,  than  that  of  cold  beds  and  cold  cham- 
bers. Neuralgia,  pneumonia,  and  consumption  itself,  can  often  be  traced  to  the 
comfortless  room  in  which  delicate  girls  are  forced  to  sleep.  The  most  econom- 
ical way  of  warming  the  upper  part  of  the  house  is  by  a  large  coal  or  wood 
stove  placed  in  the  hall  with  pipes  running  into  each  chamber ;  and,  with  a  very 
small  amount  of  fuel,  the  rooms  will  all  be  made  comfortable.  Soap-stone 
stoves,  thus  arranged,  are  quite  as  desirable  for  heating  purposes,  as  hot  air  fur- 
naces, while  they  will  not  consume  as  much  fuel,  and  they  will  keep  the  air  as 
soft  as  if  heated  by  steam. 

The  porcelain  stoves  of  the  Germans  and  Russians  are  also  superior  to  most 
of  our  methods  of  warming  houses,  and  they  could  be  imitated  in  this  countiy 
with  great  benefit.  The  soap-stone  stoves,  however,  are  almost  as  desirable, 
and  every  year  they  gain  in  popularity,  and  are  rapidly  superseding  the  cast- 
iron  stoves,  which  are  considered  unhealthy  from  the  poisonous  gas  generated 
from  them. 

A  vase  of  water  with  a  little  charcoal  in  it,  to  keep  it  pure,  should  always  be 
kept  upon  the  stove  ;  and  both  it  and  the  charcoal  should  be  changed  weekly. 

To  ventilate  a  chamber  the  lower  and  upper  part  of  the  sashes  should  be 
opened,  so  that  the  fresh  air  can  enter  below,  and  the  foul  air  find  egress  at  the 
top. 

In  well  warm'^d  slpoping-rooms,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  insert  a  sheet  of  zinc,  well 
perforated  with  holes  in  the  upper  part  of  the  sash,  and  thus  give  the  foul  air  a 
good  opportunity  to  escape. 

Of  late  yeai-s  the  doctors  have  had  a  great  deal  to  say  against  valances  and 
.curtains  to  beds,  so  that  they  have  been  nearly  discarded  from  common  use. 
Habit  and  association,  however,  have  such  strong  hold  upou  us  all,  that  those 
of  us  who  passed  the  nights  of  our  youth  under  the  curtains  of  a  four-poster  will 
still  consider  them  superior  in  coziuess,  warmth  and  seclusion,  to  any  modern 
style  of  bedstead. 


loo  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

It  can  easily  be  understood  that  the  almost  entire  exclusion  of  fresh  air  must 
be  injurious ;  but  it  must  be  admitted  that  a  bedstead  does  look  bare  and  com- 
fortless when  entirely  denuded  of  drapery.  We  must  therefore  content  our- 
selves with  a  compromise,  and  pui-chase  a  canopy  for  the  head  of  the  bedstead. 

There  has  also  been  a  discussion  of  late  years  upon  the  healthful  merits  of 
iron  and  brass  or  woods.  But  we  incline  to  take  up  the  cudgels  in  favor  of  the 
latter,  and  declare  that  ornament  an  iron  one  as  you  will,  decorate  it  with  gild- 
ing or  inlay  it  with  brass,  it  can  never  equal  the  beauty  of  beautifully  painted 
or  grained  wood. 

For  places  where  crowds  do  congregate,  the  iron  ones  may  possess  the  best 
qualifications  on  account  of  their  cleanliness,  and  their  being  less  likely  to  re- 
tain infection ;  but  it  seems  to  us  that  they  never  can  look  as  comfortable. 

The  most  luxurious  arrangement  for  a  bed  is  to  lay  a  horse-hair  mattress  on 
the  top  of  a  spring  mattress.  To  be  sure  the  latter  is  a  costly  appurtenance 
compared  with  an  under  bed  of  "  excelsior  "  or  straw.  Yet  it  is  j^ar  excellence 
preferable  to  them.  It  is  very  poor  economy  to  pm-chase  poor  beds ;  they  must 
be  paid  for  well  in  the  beginning,  and  then  they  will  last  many  years,  and  can 
be  made  over  as  good  as  new,  whenever  they  become  soiled. 

One  rule  should  be  invariable  with  every  good  housekeeper,  viz.,  that  the  guest- 
chamber's  bed  should  never  be  made  up  with  sheets  and  blankets  until  needed 
for  visitors.  Cover  it  with  a  bed-spread  to  keep  the  beds  from  dust,  but  keep  the 
blankets  and  sheets  in  boxes  or  drawers,  and  put  them  on  only  when  required. 
A  sun-wholesome,  fresh,  sweet  room,  with  a  dry  bed  and  plenty  of  well-aired 
bedclothes,  is  within  the  means  of  the  poorest  to  give  their  visitors. 

It  should  be  the  pride  of  every  housekeeper  to  possess  clean,  sweet  beds,  and 
to  keep  them  in  such  a  condition  that  they  can  be  quickly  prepared  for  use. 
Good  pillows  are  also  very  essential  to  good  sleep.  And  it  is  poor  economy  to 
purchase  old  ones,  but  far  better  to  buy  new  feathers,  and  ticking,  and  make  the 
pillows  in  the  house. 

If  you  have  old  pillows  whose  feathers  need  renovating,  put  them  on  the  grass 
the  first  rainy  day,  and  let  them  get  well  wetted.  Turn  them  on  the  other  side 
until  the  tick  is  washed  clean.  Then  take  them  from  the  grass,  and  pin  to  the 
clothes-line,  or  hang  on  a  pole  to  diy,  shaking  them  up  occasionally.  When 
thoroughly  dried  beat  with  a  stick  for  ten  minutes  ;  and  you  will  have  pillows 
as  good  as  new. 

All  the  pieces  of  furniture  in  a  room  should  correspond  in  color,  i.  e.,  be  of  the 
same  kind  of  natural  or  painted  woods.  Painted  furniture  can  be  purchased 
very  cheaply,  and  it  is  made  in  pleasing  shapes.  Sets  that  are  painted  of  some 
light  tint  with  a  narrow  gilt  band,  or  a  relief  of  pink,  blue,  green  or  garnet  have 
a  very  good  effect,  and  can  be  repainted  at  any  time. 

In  arranging  the  furniture,  take  care  to  place  the  bed  so  that  it  is  not  opposite 
a  window,  for  the  light  falling  upon  the  face  is  often  injurious  to  the  eyes.  But 
if  it  cannot  be  avoided,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  have  double  shades,  the  outer  one 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  loi 

being  of  green  or  hhio,  and  the  inner  one  white.     Or  dark  glazed  cambric  can 
be  pinned  to  the  white  curtains. 

A  prettily  draped  dressing  table  is  one  of  the  most  effective  objects  in  a  bed- 
room if  its  appointments  are  kept  neat  and  natty.  If  tastefully  made,  with 
dotted  muslin  ari<l  colored  cambrics,  and  ornamented  with  ribbons,  it  always 
gives  good  satisfaction,  until  it  must  be  dismantled  for  the  laundry.  A  half 
circular  table  of  connnon  pine,  thus  covered,  and  a  good  sized  mirror  suspend- 
ed over  it,  and  prettily  draped,  can  be  procured  at' a  slight  expense  from  any 
furnishing  store. 

Home  Culture. 

This  is  a  text  from  which  many  sermons  are  written  now-a-days,  not  only  for 
the  pulpit,  but  also  for  the  newspaper  and  magazine,  and  it  surely  does  not 
come  amiss  to  write  upon  it  for  "Scraps  fur  the  Household." 

So  let  us  beg  of  our  lady  readers  to  cultivate  a  taste  for  literature  in  all  its 
branches,  to  learn  to  appreciate  a  fine  poem,  essay,  and  historical  work,  as  well 
as  to  enjoy  the  last  sensation  novel. 

Do  not  let  the  gentlemtMi  of  the  household  take  possession  of  the  cosy  library, 
but  place  your  chair  and  foot-stool,  and  work-stand  there,  and  share  its  privi- 
leges ;  and  ask  that  some  interesting  book,  magazine  or  paper  may  be  read  aloud, 
and  thus  beguile  the  monotony  of  the  needle.  By  this  means  you  can  gather  up 
many  pearls  of  wisdom,  while  you  busily  ply  the  needle,  or  the  crochet  hook. 

Practice  reading  aloud  yourselves,  for  it  is  one  of  the  best  and  also  the  rarest 
accomplishment  that  women  can  possess,  while  it  is  also  one  of  the  most  charm- 
ing pastimes  for  the  family  circle.  A  high-toned  literary  taste  is  considered 
most  n^dful  for  a  true  lady ;  and  no  one  should  allow  her  time  to  be  so  occu- 
pied that  she  cannot  become  acquainted  with  English  classics,  the  poets,  drama- 
tists, essayists,  novelists,  etc.,  as  well  as  with  the  current  magazine  literature  of 
the  day.  Such  studies  will  serve  to  make  your  mind  rich  and  ripe,  and  to  take 
away  all  flippancy  and  pedantry. 

It  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  exercise  of  women's  rights,  to  insist  upon  shar- 
ing the  literary  pursuits  of  the  sterner  sex,  and  to  show  yourselves  capable  of 
understanding  all  things  connected  with  them. 

A  part  of  every  twenty-four  hours  should  be  especially  set  apart  for  home  cul- 
ture, and  if  you  do  not  feel  a  great  interest  in  the  pursuit  at  the  first,  you  will 
find  that  it  will  increase  daily,  and  it  will  prevent  you  from  degenerating  into 
nothing  but  a  housekeeper  who  does  not  possess  a  soul  above  preserves  or 
pickles,  or  into  a  gossip  whose  chief  occupation  consists  in  collecting  stories 
about  her  neighbors,  and  into  relating  them  from  house  to  house. 

It  will  give  you  richness  and  breadth  of  thought,  and  also  provide  you  with 
something  to  talk  about  besides  fashions,  and  the  annoyances  of  your  house- 
hold; for  althouQ:h  a  chat  upon  dress  and  a  little  pleasant  gossip  may  not  come 
amiss  in  a  friendly  visit,  yet  when  one  makes  them  the  chief  topics  of  conversa- 


I02  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

tion  on  all  occasions,  it  shows  how  very  small  is  the  pivot  upon  which  the  mind 
turns.  Moreover,  if  you  thus  cultivate  your  own  minds,  you  will  be  able  to  give 
your  children  a  higher  standard  of  excellence,  and  can  teach  them  that  books 
are  often  far  better  companions  than  those  who  talk  and  run  about. 

And  a  cultivated  intellect  is  never  at  loss  for  companionship  of  the  highest 
order,  while  the  heavens  above  us,  the  earth  beneath  us,  and  the  waters,  all  pay 
tribute  to  it.  Astronomy,  geology,  and  all  animated  nature,  open  their  stores 
of  treasures  to  those  who  wiU  seek  them,  and  there  is  not  a  moment  of  our  wak- 
ing existence  but  can  be  employed  in  learning  something  that  is  both  of  use 
and  interest.  A  foreign  language  can  be  learned  in  the  few  minutes  that  one 
waits  for  the  summons  to  dinner.  In  "  Lord  Macauley^s  Life  and  Letters"  one 
reads  with  amazement  of  his  wondrous  powers  of  devouring  knowledge,  and 
yet,  if  you  would  only  commence  the  practice  in  good  earnest,  you  will  be  sui'- 
prised  at  your  own  powers  of  voracity  in  the  pm-suit. 

TJie  Ch'umbler, 

As  there  are  few  households  wherein  the  spirit  of  grumbling  doth  not  dwell, 
it  may  not  be  out  of  place  in  a  scrap-book  prepared  for  the  family,  to  quote  the 
following  from  the  graphic  pen  of  the  well-known  H.  H. : 

"  Oh,  who  can  describe  him  ?  " 

There  is  no  language  that  can  do  justice  to  him,  no  supernatural  foresight 
which  can  predict  where  his  next  thrust  will  fall,  from  what  unsuspected  cor- 
ner he  will  send  his  next  arrow. 

Like  death,  he  has  all  seasons  for  his  own  ;  his  ingenuity  is  infernal.  Who- 
ever tries  to  forestall  or  appease  him,  might  better  be  at  work  in  Augean  sta- 
bles ;  because,  after  all,  we  must  admit  that  the  facts  of  life  are  on  his  side.  It 
is  not  intended  that  we  shall  be  very  comfortable  here.  There  is  a  terrible 
amount  of  total  depravity  in  animate  and  inanimate  tilings  ! 

From  morning  till  night  there  is  not  an  hour  without  its  cross  to  carry.  The 
weather  thwarts  us ;  servants,  landlords,  drivers,  washerwomen  and  bosom 
friends  misbehave ;  clothes  don't  fit ;  teeth  will  ache ;  stomachs  will  get  out  of 
order ;  newspapers  are  stupid  ;  and  children  make  too  much  noise. 

If  there  are  not  big  troubles  there  are  little  ones.  If  they  are  not  in  sight, 
they  are  hiding.  I  have  wondered  whether  the  happiest  mortal  could  point  to 
one  single  moment,  and  say  : 

"  At  that  moment  there  was  nothing  in  my  life  which  I  would  have  had 
changed." 

I  think  not.  In  argument,  therefore,  the  grumbler  has  the  best  of  it.  It  is 
more  than  probable  tliat  things  arc  just  as  he  says.  , 

But  why  say  it?     Why  make  four  miseries  out  of  three? 
■    If  the  three  be  unbearable,  so  much  the  worse.     If  he  is  uncomfortable  it  is  a 
pity;  we  are  sorry,  but  we  can't  change  the  course  of  nature.     We  shall  soon 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  103 

have  our  own  little  turn  of  torments,  and  we  do  not  wish  to  be  worn  out  before 
it  comes,  by  having  to  listen  to  his;  probably,  too,  the  very  things  of  which  he 
complains,  are  pressing  just  as  heavily  on  us  as  on  him. 

Suppose  every  one  did  as  he  does.  Imagine,  for  instance,  a  course;  of  grumble 
from  t»n  persons  at  breakfast  table,  all  saying  at  once,  or  immediately  after 
each  other : 

"  This  coffee  is  not  fit  to  drink.  Really,  the  attendance  at  this  house  is 
insufferably  poor." 

I  have  sometimes  wished  to  try  the  homeopathic  treatment,  "  similia  similibus 
curantur,"  in  a  bad  case  of  grumble.     It  seems  as  if  it  might  work  a  cure. 

If  you  lose  your  temper  with  the  gi-umbler,  and  turn  upon  him  suddenly,  say- 
ing, "  Oh,  do  not  spoil  all  our  pleasure  !  Do  make  the  best  of  things,  or  at  least 
keep  quiet."  See  how  aggrieved  he  is  ;  how  unjust  he  thinks  you  are  to  "  make 
a  personal  matter  of  it."  "  You  do  not,  surely,  suppose  I  think  you  are  respon- 
sible for  it,  do  you,"  he  asks,  with  a  lofty  air  of  astonishment  at  your  unreason- 
able sensitiveness. 

Of  course  we  do  not  suppose  he  thinks  we  are  to  blame ;  we  do  not  take  him 
to  be  a  fool  as  well  as  a  grumbler.  But  he  speaks  to  us,  at  us,  before  us,  about 
the  cause  of  his  discomfort,  whatever  it  may  be,  precisely  as  he  would  if  we  were 
to  blame,  and  that  is  the  one  thing  which  makes  his  grumbling  so  insufferable. 
But  this  he  can  never  be  made  to  see.  And  the  worst  of  it  is  that  grumbling  is 
contagious.  If  we  live  with  him,  we  shall,  sooner  or  later,  in  spite  of  our  dis- 
like of  his  ways,  fall  into  them. 

There  is  no  help  for  this.  I  have  seen  it  again  and  again.  I  have  caught  it 
myself.  One  grumbler  in  a  family  is  as  pestilential  a  thing  as  a  diseased  ani- 
mal in  a  herd ;  if  he  be  not  shut  up  or  killed,  the  herd  is  lost. 

Ajjprojii'iafeness  of  Pictures, 

Pictures  are  always  charming  additions  to  our  surroundings,  but  there  is  a 
certain  fitness  belonging  to  them,  that  does  not  seem  to  be  understood  by  every 
owner  of  paintings. 

For  instance,  a  battle  scene  does  not  seem  appropriate  for  a  parlor  or  sleeping- 
room,  and  we  cannot  see  the  propriety  of  adorning  a  sick  chamber  with  a  floral 
cross  or  wreath  taken  from  a  casket ;  as  it  is  not  always  a  narcotic  to  a  sick  per- 
son to  be  reminded  that  death  is  close  at  hand. 

And  we  know  of  but  few  localities  where  skulls  and  cross  bones  are  not  out  of 
place.  They  might  possess  significance  in  a  druggist's  store,  beside  his  pills 
and  poisons,  but  surely  not  in  another  place,  unless  it  is  in  a  phrenologist's  apart- 
ment, or  a  physician's  office. 

Give  us  magnificent  landscapes  for  our  parlors,  landscapes  that  will  thrill  us 
with  joyousness,  and  inspire  us  with  noble  thoughts  every  time  we  cast  our  eyes 
upon  them. 


I04  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

lu  our  dining  rooms,  let  us  collect  handsome  portraits,  and  lovely  representa- 
tions of  flowers  and  fruits,  game,  etc.,  and  in  our  sleeping  apartments  let  us 
hang  the  lovely  faces  of  children,  and  of  youths'  faces  that  will  give  us  pleasing 
thoughts  as  we  hover  on  the  borders  of  nod  laud. 

Let  us  hang  in  the  sick  room  peaceful  landscapes  of  smi-lit  vallejs,  with 
only  shadow  sufficient  to  give  them  an  appearance  of  rest  and  peace ;  or  happy 
glimpses  of  a  clear,  still  bit  of  water,  with  a  peaceful,  quiet  shore. 

Such  pictures  are  conducive  to  the  peace  of  the  soul,  are  restful  to  the  storm- 
tossed  spirit,  and  do  not  distract  and  annoy  a  sufferer.  Painful  representations 
are  out  of  place  in  the  household,  and  are  rarely  to  be  seen  where  the  spirit  of 
peace  abides. 

A  Hint  to  Mothers, 

It  is  a  wise  thing  to  send  the  babies  into  the  open  air,  if  possible,  every  day, 
but  it  is  exceedingly  needful  to  confide  them  to  competent  hands,  and  not  allow 
a  scatter-brained  young  girl,  in  whose  hands  you  would  not  trust  your  cut-glass 
dishes,  to  take  out  the  child  whom  you  cherish  as  the  dearest  possession  life 
holds  for  you ;  and  if  you  do  this  you  may  be  sure  that  the  little  tender  darling 
will  be  bounced  into  and  over  gutters,  thumped  over  crossings  at  headlong  speed, 
and  tossed  about  and  wearied  out,  until  it  receives  more  harm  than  good  from 
its  airing. 

Every  observant  person,  who  walks  in  the  streets  of  town  or  city,  will  tell 
you  how  roughly  and  even  crossl}',  the  little  nurse  girls  handle  their  charges, 
and  how  they  often  feel  obliged  to  speak  to  them  words  of  caution  concerning 
the  way  in  which  they  treat  the  children. 

It  is  perfectly  easy  to  guide  a  child's  carriage  over  a  gutter  without  a  jar,  but 
it  is  rarely  done  by  a  servant,  and  the  little  ones  are  jerked  and  bumped 
along  in  this  wearisome  style,  sometimes  for  hours  without  change  of  position, 
until  they  become  quite  exhausted  ;  and  very  serious  evils  have  been  the  result 
in  several  cases  that  have  come  to  our  knowledge. 

Mothers  should  make  it  their  pleasure  to  go  out  with  their  cliildren,  and  show 
the  nurses  exactly  how  to  guide  the  carriages,  and  also  to  see  that  they  do  not 
take  them  into  the  thoroughfares  of  the  town,  but  select  some  open,  pleasant 
street,  where  the  passers  by  are  not  nimiei'ous  ;  and  if  they  cannot  always  go  out 
themselves,  they  should  if  possible,  send  another  child,  or  in  some  way  be  as- 
sured that  their  commands  are  obeyed ;  and  that  the  baby  receives  healthful  air 
and  exercise. 

Very  young  babies  should  always  be  carried  out  in  the  arms,  as  the  jar  of  the 
pavements  is  not  desirable  for  them;  and  many  spinal  diseases  have  been  pro- 
duced by  the  baby-carriages  of  the  day. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  105 

A  Good  I*lnn  for  a  Kitchen, 

A  kitchon  should  be  so  situated  that  it  will  have  the  full  morning  sun  to  light 
it  uj)  brightly,  and  also  be  shaded  from  it  at  noon-day;  and  the  windows  should 
be  large,  and  easily  opened,  both  from  the  top  and  bottom,  so  as  to  secure  good 
ventilation.  And  to  fully  insure  this,  it  is  an  excellent  idea  to  have  a  large  cir- 
cular device,  like  an  old  fashioned  sounding  board,  suspended  over  the  cooking 
stove,  with  a  hole  in  the  center,  and  a  tube  or  pipe  leading  into  the  chimney,  to 
carry  off  the  savory  odors,  which  the  process  of  cooking  generally  diffuses  all 
over  the  house.  For  however  agreeable  the  odors  may  be  in  the  kitchen,  they 
are  especially  annoying  to  delicate  olfactories  in  the  parlor,  when  they  have 
become  stale  and  flat. 

A  large  sink,  with  handsome  copper  basins  and  suitable  implements  for  wash- 
ing dishes,  and  a  wooden  drainer  attached  to  it,  is  indispensable.  And  adjust- 
able pipes  leading  from  the  hot  and  cold  water  tanks,  should  be  attached  to  it. 

Various  cupboards  and  closets  can  also  be  built  into  or  attached  to  the  walls, 
which  will  not  only  be  very  convenient,  but  can  also  be  made  decorative.  In 
the  pantry  there  should  be  a  special  closet  for  the  flour  barrel,  and  one  for  the 
sugar  barrel  with  covers  attached  by  hinges,  and  a  small  chest  of  drawers  should 
be  built  up  at  one  side,  with  tiny  partitions  for  all  kinds  of  sjnces,  and  condi- 
ments used  in  cooking,  and  each  one  should  be  labeled,  so  that  at  a  glance  the 
cook  can  see  what  she  needs,*without  looking  through  numerous  boxes  for  the 
articles. 

Cookery  is  rapidly  becoming  a  complicated  art,  and  the  cook  needs  to  have 
all  her  utensils  and  essentials  so  arranged  that  they  can  be  obtained  in  a 
moment. 

"^  place  for  everything,  and  everything  in  its  place,"  is  a  maxim  that  applies 
particularly  to  the  kitchen  department. 

TJie  Art  of  Color. 

There  are  comparatively  very  few  ladies  who  really  comprehend  the  law  of 
colors,  as  applied  to  their  toilettes  and  apartments.  Many  a  lady,  although  she 
may  be  robed  in  the  costliest  materials,  and  considers  herself  a  mirror  of 
fashion,  in  the  cut  of  her  garments,  will  yet  lack  the  indescribable  something 
which  should  harmonize  the  whole,  and  give  to  it  an  air  of  elegance  and  grace ; 
and  the  educated  eye  will  observe  this  want  at  once,  and  will  know  that  the 
hues  of  her  costume  are  not  in  exact  harmony.  And  a  lady  who  is  dressed  in 
simple  black  cashmere,  with  spotless  lingerie,  and  merely  a  knot  of  blue  or 
crimson   ribbon  at  her  throat,  will  often  be  the  best  dressed  of  the  two. 

There  are  those  who  will  wear  a  ruby  colored  dress,  with  bows  of  like  ribbon, 
and  wonder  why  the  effect  is  not  pleasing,  when  all  the  fashion  folks  say  that 
red  and  blue  are  excellent  contrasts.  If  she  had  selected  blue  for  the  pre- 
vailing hue,  and  contrasted  it  with  ruby  colored  ribbons,  she  would  not  have 


io6  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

had  reason  to  deplore  its  bad  effect;  and  it  should  always  be  borne  in  mind, 
that  if  masses  of  color  are  not  distributed  in  equal,  or  nearly  equal  proportions, 
as  in  plaids  or  stripes,  the  soberer  hue  should  always  be  the  predominant  color ; 
but  it  should  be  relieved  by  a  dash  of  brightness.  A  dress  of  the  dark,  rich 
crimson  shade,  called  maroon  color,  will  be  well  relieved  by  knots  or  bows  of 
bright  blue,  but  that  is  not  a  flaming  red. 

A  little  knowledge  of  the  harmony  of  colors  is  not  to  be  disregarded  by  any 
lady,  but  is  a  needful  part  of  her  education  ;  and  will  prove  of  great  assistance 
in  teaching  her  not  only  to  dress  tastefully,  but  also  to  arrange  her  rooms 
effectively.     Yet  bright  colors  should  always  be  sparingly  employed. 

Hints  upon  House-Linen, 

In  portioning  out  the  money  for  purchasing  house  furniture,  etc.,  a  good 
share  should  be  laid  aside  for  the  house-linen,  which  is  so  essential  a  part  of 
housekeeping.  Its  several  items  will  form  a  lengthy  list,  and,  like  kitchen 
utensils,  and  other  apparently  insignificant  but  needful  adjuncts  of  a  house,  a 
good  many  dollars  can  be  consumed  in  their  purchase,  and  there  will  be  but 
little  to  show  in  comparison  with  the  amount  of  the  outlay,  excepting  to  those 
who  comprehend  the  value  of  fine  damask.  And  there  are  many  ladies  who 
take  more  pride  in  their  elegant  and  costly  table  linen,  chamber  towels,  sheets, 
etc.,  than  in  the  silver  and  glass  that  make  so  much  handsomer  a  show.  Yet 
the  exhibition  of  it  in  dining-room  and  bed-room,  is  considered  by  many  as  a 
great  test  of  the  wealth  of  the  housekeeper,  and  her  position  in  society. 

To  those  who  do  not  know  the  merits  and  demerits  of  double  and  single 
damask,  and  who  take  no  thought  concerning  the  fineness  of  their  sheets,  nor 
the  width  of  their  hems,  nor  the  breadth  of  the  pillows  and  their  cases,  nor  the 
beauty  of  their  bed-spreads,  nor  the  softness  and  thickness  of  their  blankets  ; 
all  these  things  will  seem  of  minor  importance.  Our  great  grandmothers  fre- 
quently spun  their  own  linen  sheets,  and  towels,  and  wove  their  blankets,  and 
pieced  up  and  quilted  their  bed-quilts,  and  delighted  to  exhibit  their  riches 
stored  away  in  chests  and  presses,  to  tlie  wondering  eyes  of  their  grandchildren, 
and  lovingly  to  finger  the  sheets  and  towels  that  they  liad  labored  so  constantly 
to  possess.  And  we  hardly  believe  that  they  would  have  permitted  a  cotton 
sheet  to  intrude  into  their  linen  presses,  although  they  are  in  such  general  use 
at  present.  We  will  give  a  list  of  the  items  of  house  linen  that  are  needed  in 
every  household. 

Table-cloths,  napkins,  tray-cloths  and  doilies,  kitchen  table-cloths,  glass, 
tea,  knife,  and  dish  clotlis;  roller  towels  and  dusters  ;  sheets,  bolster  and  pillow- 
cases, pillow-shams,  sheets  and  shams,  chamber  towels  ajid  toilet  covers ;  and  bed- 
spreads, both  thick  and  thin.  The  cost  of  table-linen  varies  with  the  price  of 
linen.  Single  damask  is  not  more  than  half  the  cost  of  double  damask,  the 
latter,  however,  will  wear  twice  as  long  as  the  former,  as  it  has  much  more  sub- 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  107 

stance,  and  the  patterns  are  shown  in  stronger  relief.  Spots  and  sprigs  are  less 
expensive  tiuui  tliose  wh.ch  have  a  centre  design  and  a  border;  and  table-linen 
is  always  cheaper  if  purchased  by  the  yard,  than  by  the  single  cloth,  with  a 
complete  i)attern. 

To  show  you  how  expensive  handsome  table-linen  is,  we  quote  from  an  English 
magazine  the  price  of  a  double  damask  table-cloth  from  seven  to  eight  yards  in 
length  at  $oU;  and  table  napkins  to  match,  would  be  from  $11.00  to  $12.00 
per  dozen.  Passing  through  our  custom-house  would  add  considerably  to  their 
price.  It  is  now  the  fashion  to  have  table-napkins  larger  than  formerly.  The 
medium  size  is,  however,  the  most  convenient,  2G  by  30  inches  ;  and  the  prices 
would  vary  from  $5.00  to  $10.00  per  dozen,  according  to  the  patterns,  as  the 
beauty  of  the  design  adds  largely  to  the  price.  Tray-cloths  and  bureau-cloths 
are  usually  of  uniform  size,  'di  by  -i'-i  inches,  and  they  range  in  price  according 
to  quality  and  pattern.  The  small  fringed  napkins  are  often  used  at  the  tea- 
table,  and  cost  from  75  cents  to  $i.00  or  $5.00  per  dozen. 

When  you  desire  to  purchase  linen,  be  sure  that  you  can  depend  upon  the 
word  of  the  seller,  and  see  that  no  cotton  is  intermixed  with  the  linen,  for  it 
never  will  look  smooth  and  glossy  after  it  is  washed  if  it  is.  For  kitchen  and 
nursery  table-cloths,  a  strong  half-bleached  linen  is  sold  by  the  yard  that  always 
gives  good  satisfaction,  if  a  good  quality  is  purchased. 

Kitchen  towels  can  be  made  of  llussia  crash  or  huckaback,  and  the  best  size 
is  23  by  35  inches ;  but  often  the  crash  comes  much  narrower.  "White  loom 
towels  can  also  be  purchased  at  a  small  cost  that  will  prove  serviceable.  Torfar 
tow^els  are  excellent  for  rough  usage. 

For  roller  towels  the  white  or  mixed  crash  and  the  huckaback  are  the  best, 
and  they  should  be  made  two  yards  and  a  half  in  length.  Buy  a  piece  of  the 
crash  and  cut  it  into  towels,  sewing  it  firmly  together. 

Dusters  are  often  a  nuisance  to  housekeepers,  as  they  are  so  liable  to  be  lost 
or  thrown  away  by  careless  house-maids,  instead  of  being  carefully  washed,  and 
used  until  they  are  wanted.  Very  serviceable  ones  are  woven  in  blue  and  white 
mixed  cotton,  with  a  fuzzy  center  that  wipes  up  the  dust  readily,  and  they  can 
be  purchased  for  twenty-five  cents  each.  Colored  calicoes  that  can  be  purchased 
for  five  or  six  cents  per  yard,  make  excellent  dusters,  if  torn  up  in  yard  lengths 
and  hemmed  on  the  machine. 

Dish-cloths  are  also  a  bother  to  neat  housewives,  for  cooks  are  so  apt  to  let 
them  become  filthy,  and  to  use  one  cloth  for  everything.  They  can  be  made 
out  of  worn-out  napkins  by  folding  them  in  quarters  and  quilting  them  together 
loosely.  They  can  also  be  bought,  woven  loosely  in  unbleached  cotton,  for  six 
cents  a  piece,  and  they  are  far  better  than  rags. 

Iron  dish  or  pot-cloths  are  a  late  invention  that  will  prove  of  great  service  to 
the  cook  in  saving  her  fingers,  as  with  their  aid  a  saucepan  or  iron  pot  can  be 
scrubbed  clean  in  a  few  minutes. 

Sheets  are  the  most  important  item  in  bed-room  linen,  and  for  ordinary  use 


io8  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

tliey  should  not  be  made  of  either  thin  or  too  fine  linen,  but  that  which  is  firm 
and  heavy. 

The  two  and  a  half  width  is  the  best  for  double  beds  ;  and  the  sheets  should  be 
cut  in  three  yards  length,  and  the  hems  of  the  upper  edges  should  be  four  inches 
in  width,  the  lower  two  inches.  Cotton  sheets  of  the  same  width  and  length 
are  far  preferable  to  those  of  yard  and  a  quarter  or  one  yard  width  cotton,  which 
must  be  sewed  together  in  the  middle.  Our  grandmothers  preferred  that  width 
because  they  were  accustomed  to  over-seam,  and  thought  that  when  the  sheets 
were  worn  in  the  center,  they  could  be  more  easily  turned,  but  the  thrifty  house- 
wife can  cut  her  sheets  through  the  center  when  it  becomes  thin,  and  sew  up 
the  selvages,  and  hem  the  edges  of  them  with  more  ease  than  she  can  rip  out  the 
over-seaming  and  sew  it  up  again,  if  she  has  a  machine  to  do  her  bidding.  Pil- 
low-cases are  made  of  both  fine  linen  and  cotton,  but  we  must  confess  that  our 
preferences  are  for  the  former,  especially  in  Summer. 

Square  pillow-cases  are  made  of  yard  wide  linen  or  cotton,  and  hemmed  with 
four  inch  hems  to  match  the  sheets.  If  both  sheets  and  pillow-cases  are  marked 
with  the  initials  in  satin  stitch,  or  even  with  braid  work,  it  gives  them  a  hand- 
some finish. 

Pillow-shams  and  sheet-shams  are  indispensable  accessories  to  every  bed-room, 
and  can  be  made  of  fine  linen  or  cambric,  lace  or  muslin,  in  figures  or  patterns. 
They  are  embroidered  in  satin  stitch  or  with  braid,  and  trimmed  with  in- 
sertions and  edgings  ;  but  if  of  lace  they  are  mostly  lined  with  pink  or  blue 
silk,  or  paper  cambric  can  be  substituted. 

They  will  add  greatly  to  the  pleasing  appearance  of  the  bed-room,  while  they 
also  protect  the  pillows  and  sheets  from  all  particles  of  dust. 

Chamber  towels  are  now  manufactured  of  gi-eat  beauty,  in  various  patterns, 
with  open  worked  and  lace  borders,  or  they  can  be  procured  by  the  piece,  and 
cut  to  the  desired  lengths  and  hemmed  on  the  edges.  They  should  be  at  least 
38  or  48  inches  in  length.  Huckaback  towels  of  all  degrees  of  fineness  can  be 
purchased  with  damask  borders  and  wide-fringes ;  and  for  those  who  desire  soft 
towels,  linen  diaper  can  be  obtained,  but  they  so  soon  become  dampened  that 
they  are  of  little  service  excepting  for  the  hands. 

Toilette  covers  are  woven  in  great  varieties,  hut  they  can  be  made  at  home 
to  give  quit(!  as  good  satisfaction.  You  can  purchase  a  thick  or  thin  material ;  if 
the  latter,  they  should  be  lined  with  pink  or  blue  cambric,  and  trimmed  with 
lace  edgings.  If  thick  Marseilles  or  dimity  is  selected,  trim  them  with  a  looped 
or  crocheted  figure.     They  should  be  cut  to  fit  the  bureaus  or  tables. 

White  Marseilles  quilts,  figured  on  both  sides,  arc  very  handsome  for  winter 
bed-spreads,  and  they  can  be  purchased  for  .f  3  to  )$10,  according  to  the  beauty  of 
the  pattern. 

The  cotton  honey-comb  bed-spreads  are  much  ligliter  and  cheaper,  and  those 
with  pink  or  blue  stripes  at  the  sides  are  very  effective  when  used  with  pillow 
and  sheet-shams  lined  with  the  same  color. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  109 

Knitted  bed-spreads  arc  quite  tlie  fashion  now,  and  as  some  of  tlie  patterns 
are  made  in  tiny  triangles,  they  are  not  cumbersome  to  knit,  but  really  give 
pleasing  occupation  to  many  elderly  ladies. 

Blankets,  although  not  included  in  house-linen,  are  still  so  closely  connected 
with  it  that  a  few  words  upon  them  may  not  be  amiss. 

The  most  expensive  are  in  the  end  the  cheapest,  and  the  low  price  of  wool  the 
past  year  has  brought  them  within  the  reach  of  many  households. 

Those  that  measure  two  and  three  quarters  by  three  and  a  quarter  yards  are 
not  too  large  for  double  beds.  White  blankets  with  scarlet  or  blue  borders  are 
the  most  desirable.  "Within  a  year  or  so  scarlet  blankets  have  been  imported 
from  England,  but  they  are  more  expensive  than  the  white. 

The  blankets  that  are  manufactured  in  California  have  also  been  highly 
praised,  and  are  very  soft  and  warm.  A  pair  of  thick,  soft,  fine  blankets  are 
really  of  greater  warmth  than  two  pairs  that  are  not  so  thick,  and  are  made  of 
coarser  wool. 

Simple  Directions  for  Shirt  3Ia7cing. 

If  possible  procure  a  pattern  from  a  tailor,  cut  by  exact  measure ;  if  this  is 
not  obtainable,  take  an  old  shirt  that  has  given  satisfaction  in  every  particular, 
and  rip  it  to  pieces,  and  cut  another  by  it  exactly ;  then  baste  it  up  and  try  it 
on.     "  Try  it  on  ?  "  repeats  the  head  of  the  household. 

"  Yes,"  we  reply,  "  try  it  on  if  you  desire  to  have  a  perfect  fit,  for  without 
such  a  precaution  your  seamstress  cannot  be  sure  that  the  neck  fits  well,  and  the 
sleeves  are  the  right  length,  and  the  whole  garment  well  adjusted.  And  j-ou 
well  know  that  if  the  shirt  fails  to  suit  you,  you  will  not  fail  to  announce  the 
fact  frequently." 

After  it  has  been  pinned  in  here,  and  basted  up  there,  take  it  off,  and  rip  it 
to  pieces,  and  cut  a  pattern  of  it,  allowing  for  the  seams  and  hems. 

Perhaps  you  may  think  this  makes  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  but  you  will  not  find 
it  as  much  as  to  hear  your  husband  or  sons  grumble  about  a  badly  fitting  shirt. 
Few  seamstresses  are  now  obliged  to  make  bosoms,  as  they  can  be  purchased  for 
but  little  more  than  the  linen  would  cost.  But  let  us  beg  of  you  to  buy  the 
finest  and  firmest  of  linen,  because  one  such  bosom  will  outlast  two  cheap  ones, 
and  the  finest  ones  will  always  do  up  the  best.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to  make 
shirts  out  of  poor  cotton  or  linen,  for  the  work  is  just  the  same,  no  matter  how 
coarse  the  fabric,  and  the  dearest  cotton  will  be  much  the  cheapest  in  the  end, 
because  one  good  sliirt  will  outlast  two  coarse  ones. 

Putting  in  the  bosom  is  the  first  part  of  the  work  to  be  accomplished.  To  do 
this,  double  the  front  of  the  shirt  in  the  middle,  and  also  double  the  bosom  in 
the  same  way,  and  place  it  exactly  square  upon  the  shirt.  Then  cut  out  a  piece 
one  inch  wider  than  the  bosom,  and  half  an  inch  shorter. 

Unfold  shirt  and  bosom,  and  commence  at  the  top  of  each  side  and  baste  the 
bosom  down  to  the  bottom.     Then  lay  a  double  plait  of  the  shirt,  directly  in 


no  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

the  middle  of  the  bottom  of  the 'bosom.  Stitch  the  sides,  and  across  the  bottom, 
and  then  turn  the  bosom  on  the  wrong  side,  and  hem  it  down,  it  being  left  half 
an  inch  longer  than  the  shirt  for  this  purpose,  and  it  will  save  the  sewing  of  a 
piece  of  tape  across  it.  The  reason  that  a  plait  is  made  at  the  bottom  of  the 
boso!n  is  that  tlie  front  of  the  shirt  should  be  narrower.  The  backs  sliould 
always  be  a  little  wider  than  the  fronts,  to  give  enough  room  for  the  shoulders 
and  arms.  If  both  sides  are  of  the  same  width,  the  bosom  will  swell  out  beyond 
the  vest,  as  is  sometimes  seen  in  ill-fitting  shirts. 

Line  the  back  of  the  shirt  the  whole  length  of  the  armholes.  Face  a  strip 
around  the  fronts  of  the  sleeves ;  or  better  still,  if  you  use  a  yoke  for  the  neck, 
cut  the  sleeves  an  inch  too  long,  and  stitch  them  in  with  an  inch  seam ;  then 
baste  it  down  on  the  shirt  all  around,  and  stitch  it.  It  makes  as  strong  a  fac- 
ing as  the  old  way  of  making  it  with  separate  facings. 

The  quickest  and  easiest  way  to  do  the  seams  by  machine  is  the  double  fell. 
Sew  up  the  shirt  or  sleeves  upon  the  I'ight  side,  trim  off  the  seam  closely,  turn 
and  sew  up  again  on  the  wrong  side,  and  your  seam  is  made  very  strong. 

The  flaps  can  be  quickly  hemmed  with  a  hemmer,  and  the  wristbands  and 
neck  bindings  added.  The  collars  should  always  be  made  separately,  as  they 
never  can  fit  as  well  if  attached  to  the  shirt. 

It  is  much  the  style  now  to  make  shirts  to  button  behind ;  in  that  case  the 
bosom  is  put  in  whole,  the  plait  laid  in  the  same  way,  and  the  back  either  fitted 
into  a  yoke  or  made  sack  shape. 

Such  a  shirt  recommends  itself  to  all  those  who  do  not  possess  mothers  or 
sisters  who  will  keep  the  buttons  always  in  repair. 

Going  to  Housekeeping, 

A  little  money  will  go  a  long  way  now  in  furnishing  a  house,  and  it  is  gener- 
ally found  to  be  much  better  economy  for  a  newly  married  couple  to  keep  house, 
than  to  board.  "  The  Lord  setteth  the  solitary  in  families,"  and  hotels  and 
boarding-houses  can  never  give  to  any  one  the  solid  happiness  of  "  Home."  A 
home  of  one's  own,  where  your  own  tastes  and  your  own  interests  are  of  the 
chief  importance,  is  a  delight  that  words  fail  to  portray. 

To  be  sure,  many  are  forced  to  ask  the  question  :  "  How  can  we  afford  the 
expense  of  house  rent  and  furnishing  in  these  hard  times?"  But,  if  you  can 
afford  to  board,  you  can  also  afford  to  keep  house,  especially  if  your  wife  has 
been  trained  to  habits  of  housewifery,  as  she  should  have  been,  by  a  judicious 
mother  who  must  fully  understand  their  importance. 

It  is  the  first  step  which  costs ;  but  if  you  can  afford  to  purchase  only  the 
needful  articles  for  a  sitting-room,  dining-room,  bed-room  and  kitchen,  and  do  not 
sigh  for  what  you  can  not  obtain,  without  pledging  your  credit  beyond  redemp- 
tion— you  will  not  find  the  outlay  to  be  so  very  large. 

Make  your  house  as  handsome  as  your  means  will  allow;  if  you  can  not 
have  Brussels  carpets,  buy  ingrain,  or  matting,  and  spread  a  few  rugs  over  it. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  Ml 

"  Furnish  the  kitchen  and  bed-room  comfortably,  and  pincli  in  other  things," 
was  the  advice  of  an  excellent  liousekeeper  to  a  bride.  And  a  good  cooking- 
stove  is  one  of  the  first  requisites — an  indixpensuble  ariicle.  To  be  sure,  it  is  a 
costly  article ;  but  you  can  often  procure  a  second-hand  one,  that  is  just  as  good 
as  new,  for  a  third  of  the  cost  of  a  new  one,  and  it  will  be  quite  as  serviceable 
for  you.  The  furniture  for  it  must  be  carefully  selected,  and  you  will  need  a 
tea-kettle,  souji-pot,  frying-pan,  three  sizes  of  saucepans,  a  dripping-pan,  for 
roasting  meat,  four  bread-pans,  a  roll-pan,  coffee-pot,  tea-pot,  half  a  dozen  iron 
spoons,  of  various  sizes,  a  skimmer,  gravy-strainer,  colander,  pie-pans,  patty- 
pans, egg-beater,  half  a  dozen  knives  and  forks,  a  dozen  kitchen  plates,  and  the 
same  number  of  cups  and  saucers,  and  nutmeg  and  bread  graters.  $12.00  or 
§13.00  will  probably  purchase  these  necessities,  and  with  them  a  great  deal  of 
nice  cookery  can  be  accomplished.  Of  course,  the  furnishing  stores  will  offer 
you  many  more  so-called  "  necessities,"  but,  with  a  few  additions,  the  best  of 
cooks  should  be  content  with  this  supply.  But,  if  you  have  the  money,  by  all 
means  select  some  of  the  novelties  for  kitchen  use,  as  there  are  many  really 
useful  articles  now  manufactured.  For  kitchen  furniture,  j-ou  will  need  a  large 
white-wood  table  -nith  two  drawers,  three  chairs,  and  a  rocking-chair.  Also,  a 
skirt-board,  shirt-board  and  flat-irons  ;  and,  if  there  are  not  stationary  tubs,  two 
wash-tubs,  and  washboard  and  wringer. 

A  vei-y  little  furniture  will  make  the  bed-room  comfortable,  but  be  sure  to  pur- 
chase good  bedding,  for  a  bed  will  last  a  life-time,  if  made  over  when  it  is  soiled. 
An  upholstered  copper  spring-bed  is  the  best,  and,  if  you  cannot  afford  a  hair 
mattrass,  purchase  three  or  four,  or  more,  coarse  soft  blankets,  and  tack  them 
together.  Then  cover  them  with  imbleached  cotton,  or  ticking,  and  you  will 
have  a  far  better  bed  than  "  excelsior  "  or  straw  mattrasses  can  make.  Very 
nice  bed-room  furniture  can  be  picked  up,  here  and  there,  at  the  auctions  of 
private  families,  or  at  auction  stores ;  but  it  needs  an  experienced  hand  to  buy 
at  the  latter. 

Clarence  Cook,  who  has  written  upon  House  Furnishing  in  Scribner's  Monthly, 
advises  young  housekeepers  to  purchase  their  furniture  in  small  lots  or  single 
pieces,  so  that  they  may  not  furnish  their  houses  in  a  set  pattern,  but  desire 
to  exercise  some  originality;  and  to  banish  from  their  minds  the  idea  that 
everything  should  be  en  suite.  That  the  front  parlor  must  match  the  back 
one,  exactly,  in  the  color  of  the  upholstering ;  that  one  side  of  a  chimney  pier 
must  just  reflect  the  other ;  that  there  must  always  be  a  middle  and  sides,  and 
so  forth,  and  so  on — laws  which  are  Medean  and  Persian  laws  to  the  tradesmen 
and  conservative,  safe,  respectable  upholsterers ;  but  they  are  not  laws  but  we 
can  transgress,  if  we  only  possess  the  courage  to  do  so. 

A  lady  of  taste  can  fit  up  pretty  and  convenient  articles  for  the  bed-rooms,  out 
of  chintz,  cretonne,  and  shoe  or  soap  boxes,  and,  with  a  bureau,  washstand,  bed- 
stead and  two  chairs  and  a  rocker,  she  need  not  suffer  for  comfortable  surround- 
ings. 


112  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

The  diniug-room  will  be  more  appropriate  for  its  use,  if  it  is  not  crowded 
with  furniture.  A  good  extension  table  of  chestnut,  oak,  or  black  walnut,  with 
half  a  dozen  chairs  to  match,  are  essential,  but  a  table  with  a  red  cover  can  do 
duty  for  a  buffet,  or  side-board,  if  your  means  do  not  justify  the  purchase  of  the 
handsomer  article.  We  should  prefer  to  go  without  it,  and  purchase  some  fine 
engravings,  well-framed,  for  the  hall,  parlor  and  dining-room,  and  wait  until  the 
length  of  the  purse  would  admit  of  its  possession. 

The  parlor,  or  sitting-room,  can  be  left  to  the  last  in  furnishing  a  home  for 
mere  comfort;  because,  if  you  commence  with  it,  and  expend  the  greater  por- 
tion of  your  money  in  an  expensive  carpet,  and  a  costly  upholstered  set  of  furni- 
ture, and  leave  the  other  rooms  bare  of  various  necessities,  as  w'ell  as  comfoits, 
though  you  may  take  a  great  deal  of  pride  in  exhibiting  the  fineries  of  tlie  par- 
lor to  your  visitors,  yet  neither  husband  nor  wife  can  take  half  as  much  com- 
fort in  it,  as  in  well-arranged  living-rooms. 

Indeed,  we  would  recommend  our  young  friends  to  sacrifice  the  parlor  entirely, 
if  they  must  scrimp  the  dining-room,  bed-room  and  kitchen,  in  order  to  furnish 
it.  A  carpet  can  be  laid  upon  the  floor,  and  a  couch  table,  and  chairs  added  as 
convenient;  then  pretty  bric-a-brac  can  be  added,  as  time  permits.  But  fill  up 
the  windows  with  brightly  blooming  plants,  and  twine  vines  over  the  casements, 
and  you  will  give  your  rooms  an  air  of  refinement. 

Hints  upon  Moving, 

Take  ample  time  to  prepare  your  household  goods,  and  do  not  allow  yourself 
to  be  so  hurried  that  you  are  in  danger  of  becoming  completely  exhausted  when 
the  deed  is  done.  With  plenty  of  assistance,  a  fortnight  will  not  give  you  any 
time  to  spare;  and  do  not  commence  to  take  up  the  carpets  in  the  rooms  that 
are  daily  occupied,  until  you  are  ready  to  leave  them,  for  bare  floors  will  make 
the  house  so  comfortless. 

Procure  all  the  boxes  and  clean  barrels  that  are  needful  to  pack  away  such 
fragile  articles  as  china,  glass-ware,  ornaments,  etc.,  and  do  each  article  up  in 
paper,  and  dampen  the  hay  or  straw  that  they  are  packed  in,  unless  they  are 
going  to  remain  packed  for  a  long  time,  and  there  is  danger  of  its  becoming 
musty. 

Large  books  can  be  tied  together  with  stout  twine  and  placed  in  baskets,  or 
packed  in  boxes;  but  do  not  take  large  boxes  for  this  purpose,  as  books  are  very 
heavy  to  handle.  All  large  pictures  should  be  tied  in  couples,  face  to  face,  w'ith 
soft  napkins  and  towels,  or  papers  laid  between  them,  and  rolls  of  soft  paper 
put  in  at  the  corners  to  prevent  them  from  becoming  defaced. 

Wrap  the  pictures  up  in  large  quilts,  or  put  them  in  the  bedding,  or  roll  car- 
pets about  them. 

It  is  an  excellent  plan  to  take  up  the  carpet  in  the  parlor  that  is  the  least 
used,  and  to  clear  the  room,  then  bring  down  many  articles  from  the  chambers, 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  113 

and  pack  them  in  that  room.  A  good  sized  parlor  will  hold  the  furniture  of 
three  comiuon  rooms,  and  those  rooms  can  be  cleaned,  and  left  in  good  order. 

If  you  can  induce  the  occupant  of  the  house  into  which  you  are  to  move  (if 
you  are  not  leaving  the  town)  to  do  the  same,  then  you  can  have  the  carpet 
put  down  in  those  rooms,  and  the  furniture  carried  there,  before  they  leave  the 
house,  for  if  they  will  give  you  the  keys  your  articles  need  not  be  molested. 

Before  you  move,  prepare  a  large  lunch  basket  with  all  needful  articles  for  a 
good  meal ;  for  it  is  truly  deplorable  to  have  to  endure  all  the  discomforts  of 
moving  without  the  assistance  of  tempting  food.  The  inner  man  must  be  for- 
tified with  something  nice  when  chaos  reigns  supreme  on  all  sides  of  you. 

Put  into  the  basket  matches,  towels,  napkins,  knives,  forks,  sugar,  tea,  and 
bread  and  butter,  and  a  tea-pot,  as  well  as  some  toothsome  cold  meats  and  pickles 
for  a  relish.  To  be  sure  a  good  meal  can  be  ordered  in  a  city  from  a  neighbor- 
ing restaurant,  but  in  most  families  a  little  attention  to  economy  is  required, 
and  sucli  a  meal  is  often  costly.  Some  pickled  oysters  will  go  well  with  the 
bread  and  butter,  and  ham  sandwiches  are  always  welcome.  See  that  the  coal 
hod  is  carried  full  of  coal,  and  that  kindlings  also  are  ready,  imless  you  have 
already  had  the  coal  bins  filled,  and  the  barrels  of  kindlings  supplied.  Of 
course  competent  housekeepers,  who  are  accustomed  to  exercise  forethought 
upon  all  subjects,  will  not  need  to  be  reminded  of  these  trifles,  which  after  all 
are  so  important  to  one's  comfoi't.  But  we  know  that  there  are  many  house- 
wives who  are  not  able  to  comprehend  their  necessities  until  deprived  of  them. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin  said  that  "three  removes  are  as  bad  as  one  fire,"  and 
many  persons  can  fully  understand  the  truth  of  the  remark ;  and  when  one  un- 
derstands how  much  it  costs  for  cartage,  and  how  liable  are  breakages  and  all 
sorts  of  disasters ;  and  how  exceedingly  wearing  such  Sittings  are,  not  only  to 
the  person  but  to  soul  and  mind,  it  is  surprising  that  the  custom  of  moving 
yearly  could  ever  take  possession  of  housekeepers.  Far  better  to  live  in  the 
country  than  to  live  whei-e  such  toils  and  moils  are  the  fashion. 

How  to  Lay  Cariiets, 

One  of  the  greatest  drawbacks  in  moving,  is  the  loss  and  annoyance  in  cut- 
ting over  and  refitting  old  carpets  to  new  rooms  ;  and  it  is  always  best  to  sell 
the  carpets  and  purchase  new  ones,  if  it  can  be  done  to  good  advantage ;  of 
course  we  would  not  recommend  you  to  sell  them  at  a  decided  loss. 

Carpet  men  are  so  used  to  the  work,  and  it  really  is  so  hard  and  troublesome 
for  raw-hands  to  attempt  it,  and  the  work  is  so  apt  to  be  badly  done  by  them, 
that  it  is  better  to  call  in  their  aid,  if  it  can  be  obtained,  and  save  the  expense 
in  other  ways. 

Carpets  require  a  great  deal  of  stretching  and  fitting  to  lie  smoothly  on  the 
floors.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  clear  the  room  of  all  furniture  that  can 
be  removed,  and  then  place  the  carpet  as  the  breadths  were  cut. 


114  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

Then  begin  at  one  corner,  and  nail  down  one  side  of  the  cut  ends  of  the 
breadths,  never  on  the  selvage  side.  When  that  is  done,  stretch  the  selvage 
along  as  far  as  possible,  and  nail  it  so  that  it  will  not  be  too  loose,  nor  yet  too 
much  stretched. 

Nail  both  selvages,  and  then  commence  in  the  middle  and  pull  up 'the 
breadths  of  the  fourth  side.  Here  the  greatest  amount  of  strength  is  needed  to 
make  it  lie  smoothly,  and  it  should  be  done  by  men,  as  few  women  possess  the 
requisite  power  to  do  it  well;  and  if  the  carpet  is  not  firmly  laid  down,  it  will 
not  wear  well,  and  will  never  have  a  tidy  appearance. 

When  heavy  carpets  have  once  been  laid  properly,  they  can  remain  so  for 
several  years ;  if  they  are  properly  cared  for,  and  are  wiped  over  with  a  cloth 
dipped  in  strong  alum  water  every  spring,  it  desti'oys  the  eggs  of  the  moth. 

Ifliy  Girls  should  be  Taur/hf  to  Keep  House. 

Many  articles  have  been  written  upon  the  moral  obligations  that  should  in- 
duce our  girls  to  desire  to  learn  to  be  good  housekeepers ;  but  their  arguments 
really  possess  little  influence,  and  are  sometimes  quite  distasteful  to  their  minds, 
for  many  of  them  do  not  relish  to  be  told  that  their  chief  duty  should  be  sought 
in  that  line. 

Therefore  a  wise  mother  will  strive  to  make  the  task  attractive  ;  and  then 
another  view  is  taken  of  it.  It  is  now  becoming  quite  the  fashion  for  young 
ladies  to  give  parties,  in  which  the  entertainments  have  been  chiefly  prepared 
by  their  own  fair  hands,  and  the  preparations  of  the  various  dainties  will  doubt- 
less give  them  much  pleasure  and  satisfaction  ;  for  it  will  show  them  how  agree- 
able the  work  can  be  made,  and  their  energies  will  be  stimulated,  and  a  desire 
•created  in  them  to  become  mistresses  of  the  fine  art  of  cookery,  as  well  as  of  the 
fine  art  of  dress.  In  some  cities  ^'Independent  Clubs "  are  formed,  where  the 
young  girls  send  in  the  various  dishes  for  the  supper,  and  prepare  them,  them- 
selves. For  instance,  if  the  ''Club"  meets  at  INIrs.  A.'s,  she  will  only  need  to 
spread  her  table  with  snowy  damask,  and  glittering  silver  and  glass,  and  her 
prettiest  china  dishes,  for  the  contents  of  the  dishes  will  be  sent  in  by  the  dif- 
ferent members  of  the  "Club."  Girls  need  not  be  forced  to  learn  to  cook,  sweep 
and  dust,  etc.,  but  they  should  be  taught  to  feel  that  unless  they  become  adepts 
in  such  labors  they  cannot  be  worthy  of  the  name  of  housekeeper,  nor  a  fit  wife 
for  any  man. 

If  our  girls  learn  how  to  make  good  beds,  how  to  sweep  carpets  and  dust 
funiiture,  and  make  l)read  and  roast  meats,  and  make  under-clotliing  of  all 
kinds,  and  also  to  repair  and  renovate  their  wardrobes  ;  they  will  possess  a  cer- 
tain kind  of  self-respect,  that  no  other  education  can  give  them;  and  will  also 
■comprehend  that  without  this  knowledge  they  are  not  worthy  of  their  sex. 

A  young  lady  may  be  able  to  sing  and  play,  to  draw  and  paint  to  perfection, 
but  if  she  is  not  also  instructed  in  the  fine  arts  of  home-life,  she  cannot  lay 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  115 

claim  to  a  superior  education,  but  will  be  made  to  feel  her  deficiencies  every 
day  she  lives.  But  if  she  is  a  proficient  in  these  arts,  she  will  be  more  valued 
and  respected  as  dauj^hter,  sister  and  wife. 

A  girl  who  is  merely  an  ornamfiit  in  the  family  circle,  can  never  be  of  the 
same  importance,  as  one  who  contributes  by  her  labor  and  thoughtfuluess  to  its 
welfare. 

To  know  how  to  keep  house  in  a  superior  manner,  requires  more  ability  than 
to  be  able  either  to  paint  or  play  the  piano  in  perfection,  for  it  is  not  merely  a 
matter  of  what  shall  we  eat  or  what  shall  we  drink,  but  it  combines  the  best 
capacities  of  the  human  mind.  For  a  good  housekeeper  must  not  only  be  dili- 
gent in  her  work,  but  she  must  also  j^wssess  a  good  memory,  be  a  good  arithme- 
tician, be  thoughtful  and  considerate  of  others,  be  able  to  keep  her  temper,  "  no 
matter  if  china  fall,"  and  put  away  from  her  heart  all  selfishness  and  narrow- 
mindedness. 

There  are  many  wives  and  mothers  who  perform  tasks,  in  conducting  their 
homes  in  a  wise  and  business-like  method,  not  inferior  to  what  their  husbands 
execute  in  managing  tiieir  business  affairs  ;  and  they  should  receive  equal  if  not 
greater  credit  for  the  talents  they  display.  For  the  care  of  a  household,  with  its 
nursery  duties,  as  well  as  its  kitchen  department,  involves  a  greater  demand 
upon  one's  patience  and  perseverance,  than  it  is  possible  for  counting-room,  or 
office  to  demand. 

The  equality  tliat  the  champions  of  Womkx's  Rights  desire  is  but  an  empty 
name,  compared  with  the  true  ecpiality  found  in  a  marriage,  where  both  hus- 
band and  wife  admit  and  acknowledge  the  other's  qualifications — the  equality 
in  which  both  perform  their  duties  and  obligations  with  a  due  sense  of  each 
other's  short-comings  and  well-doings,  and  each  allows  to  the  other  high  praise 
for  good  conduct ;  and  such  a  marriage  estate  is  sure  to  retain  the  brightness  of 
the  honey-moon,  as  long  as  moons  shall  wax  and  w"ane  for  them. 

Hints  on  Shopiying. 

It  is  very  poor  economy  to  purchase  inferior  fabrics  because  they  are  cheap, 
when  it  is  very  evident  that  the  material  is  coarse  and  slazy ;  and  it  will  not 
pay  to  expend  either  time  or  money  in  making  it  into  garments. 

Persons  with  limited  means  are  very  apt,  however,  to  purchase  such  kind  of 
clothing,  because  the  first  outlay  is  less  than  would  be  required  to  procure  high 
priced  goods  ;  and  if  a  calico  at  six  or  seven  cents  looks  about  as  well  as  one 
for  fifteen  cents  or  twenty  cents,  it  is  purchased,  and  if  it  can  be  made  up  at 
home,  by  ingenious  hands,  and  the  only  extra  cost  will  be  for  linings,  buttons 
and  thread,  well  and  good ;  but  if  a  dress-maker's  aid  must  be  enlisted  to  cut  the 
dress,  it  is  better  economy  to  pmxhase  the  best  articles,  and  make  one  dress  do 
service  for  two. 

Such  mistakes  will  often  be  seen  through  the  whole  wardrobes  of  some  f ami- 


ri6  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

lies  ;  and  the  result  is  that  they  never  have  anything  really  handsome,  and  are 
always  buying  and  making  articles  of  clothing  of  poor  material,  thinking  that 
they  are  practicing  real  economy,  when  to  tell  the  truth,  none  but  rich  people 
can  possibly  afford  to  buy  poor  goods. 

And  this  rule  applies  strictly  to  all  sorts  of  goods,  carpets  and  house  linen ; 
boots  and  shoes,  as  well  as  to  one's  wardrobe. 

"We  fairly  groan  over  the  time  and  the  toil  that  some  women  expend  in  mak- 
ing up  cotton  of  low  price  into  under-clothing.  Just  as  many  stitches  are 
needed  for  each  garment,  and  the  poor  cotton  will  wear  out  twice  as  quickly  as 
that  of  premium  quality. 

Far  better  to  make  three  shirts  of  good  cloth,  than  six  of  a  lower  grade.  The 
same  thing  can  be  said  with  regard  to  flannels  for  under-clothing.  And  all- 
wool  Shaker  flannel  will  wear  out  two  or  three  garments  of  flimsy  cotton-and- 
wool  stuff.  In  children's  clothing  especially,  one  should  strive  to  purchase  good 
materials,  those  that  will  wash  and  bear  the  wear  and  tear  of  an  active,  out-door 
life.  If  it  is  outgrown,  and  there  is  a  younger  child  to  wear  it,  just  so  many 
stitches  are  saved. 

Under-clothing  in  a  family  of  children  can  be  made  so  as  to  be  serviceable  for 
two  or  three,  as  well  as  for  one  child.  When  one  starts  foiili  upon  a  shoppi)ig 
excursion,  it  is  a  great  saving  of  time  to  have  a  list  of  the  articles  reqiured 
written  out  legible,  just  the  amount  of  yards  needed,  exactly  the  number  of 
buttons  and  thread,  and  the  like,  that  are  required. 

By  this  means  you  will  be  saved  from  sudden  temptation  to  purchase  what 
you  are  really  not  in  want  of,  in  lieu  of  that  which  is  a  decided  necessity,  and 
you  will  be  taught  to  regulate  your  desires  to  your  wants. 

Then  trade  only  with  merchants  whose  reliability  and  integrity  have  been 
tested,  and  you  feel  that  you  will  not  be  cheated,  for  we  all  know  that  in  trade 
"  honesty  is  rarely  considered  the  best  policy  " — but  the  usual  maxim  is,  get  what 
you  can  for  your  merchandise.  In  the  long  run  it  is  the  best  plan  to  purchase 
the  needed  supplies  for  a  family  at  one  or  two  stores,  and  the  proprietors  will 
be  more  likely  to  sell  to  you  at  lowest  rates,  for  a  regular  customer  will  often 
receive  favors  that  are  not  granted  to  occasional  purchasers.  And  it  is  poor 
policy  to  spend  valuable  time  in  going  from  store  to  store,  hunting  up  bargains. 
Besides,  you  will  often  be  persuaded  to  purchase  goods  that  are  not  essential, 
merely  because  they  are  so  cheap. 

JIow  to  Cultivate  the  Habit  of  Heading. 

There  are  many  housekeepers  whose  time  is  so  constantly  occupied  that  they 
do  not  seem  able  to  find  an  hour  for  reading  in  the  twenty-four,  and  because 
they  cannot  take  up  a  book  and  devote  so  much  time  to  its  pages,  they  will  de- 
clare that  they  have  no  time  to  improve  their  minds.  Perhaps  we  can  show 
them  that  this  is  a  great  mistake. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  117 

For  there  arc  (loul>tless  a  great  many  five  and  ten  and  even  fifteen  minutes, 
during  the  day,  tliat  coukl  be  given  to  reading  a  book  or  a  magazine  if  it  were 
only  at  hand.  It  is  not  the  books  that  are  read  in  a  few  hours,  or  at  a  sitting, 
that  are  of  the  most  service  to  us,  but  those  that  we  devour  in  odd  moments,  a 
few  pages  at  a  time,  which  are  often  the  most  thoroughly  digested,  and  leave  their 
record  indelibly  in  the  mind.  The  men  who  have  taken  high  rank  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  are  not  always  those  who  had  the  best  advantages  for  study  in  their 
youth,  but  those  who  were  forced  to  depend  upon  self-culture,  and  to  snatch  a 
few  moments  now  and  then  from  laborious  occupations  to  enable  them  to  store 
their  minds  with  the  much-desired  knowledge.  Henry  Wilson,  Vice-President 
of  the  United  States  in  1872,  owed  all  his  culture  to  the  habit  of  reading  at  odd 
moments;  and  we  believe  he  could  not  read  at  all  until  he  was  nearly  out  of  his 
teens. 

It  is  the  habit  of  reading,  rather  than  the  time  at  your  command,  that  lielps 
you  to  travel  on  the  road  to  learning ;  and  many  of  our  scientific  men,  whose 
researches  have  made  their  names  famous,  have  been  able  to  devote  only  an 
hour  or  two  each  day  to  their  studies. 

If  you  can  learn  to  use  the  spare  moments  that  w^ill  occur  in  the  midst  of 
your  housework,  and  to  read  a  little  in  book  or  newspaper,  if  it  is  but  a  page, 
you  will  find  your  brains  stimulated  by  the  exercise,  and  your  labors  lightened 
by  the  fresh  idea's  you  have  received.  Pages  of  poetry  can  be  stored  away  in 
the  brain,  while  one  tends  a  child,  or  finishes  the  weekly  ironing. 

Place  a  volume  of  Lon(ffelluw''s,  Lowell's,  or  Whittier's  Poems,  upon  the  table, 
opened  at  some  verses  whose  sentiments  cheer  your  soul,  and,  as  the  work  pro- 
gresses, let  the  words  sink  so  deeply  into  your  memory  that  time  can  never 
efface  them. 

Poems  that  are  learned  before  one  enters  the  teens,  will  be  as  fresh  in  the 
memory  when  one  counts  three-score  years  and  ten. 

Xothing  helps  along  the  monotonous  tread-mill  round  of  daily  life  so  much 
as  bright  thoughts,  whicli  will  entertain  you  while  j-our  liands  are  moulding 
bread,  or  fashioning  garments.  A  new  idea  from  some  book  or  newspaper  is,  to 
the  mind,  like  the  oil  which  makes  your  sewing-machine  revolve  with  so  much 
greater  ease.  The  ideas  that  we  recall  from  books  that  we  have  read,  will  also 
serve  as  an  incentive  to  nobler  action,  and  will  often  become  some  of  the  most 
precious  gems  in  the  treasury-house  of  our  remembrance. 

All  knowledge  is  made  up  of  atoms,  which,  perhaps,  if  taken  by  themselves, 
might  seem  insignificant ;  but,  in  the  aggregate,  they  will  prove  the  most 
valuable  weapons  for  the  mind,  and  the  most  substantial  safeguards  for  the 
soul.  Doctor  Johnson  said,  "  Read  anything  continuously,  and  you  will  be 
learned."  The  odd  moments  which  you  are  inclined  to  spend  in  idle  long- 
ings, or  belittling  gossip,  if  occupied  in  reading,  would  give  j'ou  treasures 
that  neither  "  moth  nor  rust  could  corrupt,  nor  thieves  break  through  and 
steal." 


ii8  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

Hoiv  to  Teach  Little  Children. 

"  As  if  mothers  needed  any  instruction  upon  tliis  point !  "  perhaps  you  will 
exclaim ;  "  for  it  surely  is  easy  enough  for  any  one  to  teach  little  children." 

Pardon  us,  but  we  must  differ  with  you,  and  declare  that  only  those  who  possess 
an  unlimited  and  inexhaustible  stock  of  that  grand  virtue,  patience,  are  really 
able  to  properly  instruct  little  children. 

How  often  we  hear  a  child  called  dull  and  apathetic,  when  the  trouble  is  that 
the  teacher  is  in  fault,  and  not  the  child,  because  she  fails  to  arouse  his  intelli- 
gence and  excite  his  interest  1  Little  children  can  not  be  taught  to  read  and 
spell,  to  learn  short  lessons  in  geography  and  arithmetic,  unless  you  can  ani- 
mate their  minds,  and  enchain  their  interest,  and  this  is  a  task  that  makes  great 
demands  upon  the  patience  of  the  teacher.  Yet  it  really  is  of  great  importance 
to  the  child  that  these  stepping-stones  in  education  should  be  well  laid,  for  tliey 
are  the  groundwork  of  the  knowledge  he  should  acquire,  year  by  year,  while  he 
lives.  Incorrect  spelling ;  wrong  emphasis  in  reading ;  indistinct  pronuncia- 
tion ;  insufficient  knowledge  of  the  multiplication  table ;  and  a  vague  idea  of 
the  elements  of  geography,  are  educational  defects  often  met  with  in  both  men 
and  women,  and  are  sure  signs  of  the  incapacity  of  their  first  teachers. 

Little  children  are  happier  if  they  are  taught  some  of  the  elements  of  knowl- 
edge when  about  four  or  five  years  old.  The  strongest  advocates  of  the  plan  of 
not  teaching  them  anything,  until  they  are  six  or  seven  years  old,  soon  learn 
that  it  is  a  great  trial  to  a  child  to  break  away  from  habits  of  constant  play,  and 
that  it  is  far  better  to  give  them  a  slate  and  pencil,  and  encourage  them  to  imi- 
tate large  letters,  and  to  learn  to  write  or  pi-int,  at  the  same  time  that  they  learn 
to  read.  Then  teach  them  to  make  figures,  as  well  as  letters ;  and  then  write 
off  the  multiplication  tables,  by  turns,  until  they  are  completely  mastered,  and 
can  not  jwssibly  be  forgotten,- while  the  mind  lasts. 

But  lesson  time  should  be  of  very  short  duration  ;  for  it  is  a  cruelty  to  keep 
an  active  child  confined  to  either  slate  or  book,  after  his  interest  in  them  has 
flagged.  Five  or  ten  minutes,  at  first,  is  quite  long  enough  to  keep  his  attention 
upon  letters  or  figures.  Wheu  the  letters  are  mastered,  and  words  can  be  read, 
as  well  as  multiplication  taught,  half  an  hour  will  be  of  greater  benefit  to  the 
child,  if  his  interest  is  enchained,  than  an  hour  of  inattention  and  frequent 
reproof. 

If  you  desire  to  have  your  children  make  progress  in  learning,  you  must  strive 
to  enlist  their  attention,  and  make  them  feel  an  interest  in  learning.  Of  course, 
there  are  those  who  are  much  more  eager  to  learn  than  others,  but  it  is  possible 
to  make  all  children  take  an  interest  in  lessons,  if  you  will  only  make  them  see 
that  you  are  also  interested  in  them;  that  you  consider  it  the  height  of  happi- 
ness to  be  able  to  read,  and  write,  and  study  ;  and,  also,  to  give  them  high  praise 
for  what  they  do  accomplish.  And  lead  them  to  talk  about  their  lessons;  and, 
as  you  read  the  newspapers,  let  the  little  one  show  you  the  letters  he  knows,  and 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  119 

do  not  repel  his  advances  in  knowledge,  even  if  you  are  more  deeply  interested 
in  the  new*  of  the  day,  than  in  a-b-c-d's.  It  is  a  grave  mistak*;,  al.sc),  to  repel 
questions,  and  a  still  greater  one  to  laugh  at  the  ignorant,  or  funny  sayings  of 
the  children  ;  for  these  little  folks  are  often  very  sensitive  to  ridicule,  and  they 
will  soon  cease  to  seek  for  information,  if  their  questions  are  styled  foolish  or 
ridiculous. 

We  well  remember  how  we  shrank  from  ridicule  in  early  life,  and  how  keenly 
we  suffered  from  ill-advised  laughter.  It  is  a  great  temptation  to  fond  parents 
to  exhibit  tlie  intellectual  abilities  of  a  clever,  bright  child  ;  but  it  is  doing  him 
a  decided  injury  to  do  so ;  an  injury  that  may  be  irreparable,  both  mentally  and 
physically. 

The  child,  doubtless,  enjoys  being  considered  a  prodigy,  and  pursues  its  studies 
with  renewed  vigor  and  delight,  until  its  active  brain  becomes,  as  it  were,  clogged, 
and  loses  its  power,  and  the  child  is  not  able  to  concentrate  its  thoughts  and  mas- 
ter its  lessons.  Oftentimes,  it  comes  on  so  gradually  that  it  is  hardly  to  be  per- 
ceived, until  too  late  to  prevent  injury  ;  but  parents  and  teachers  should  be  very 
careful  not  to  overstimulate  a  bright  child,  and,  as  soon  as  it  shows  any  signs  of 
languor,  the  lessons  should  cease  at  once  ;  if  not  entirely,  yet  in  a  great  degree, 
and  the  child  be  coaxed  to  active  play,  and  given  various  amusements  that  will 
exercise  the  body,  and  restore  strength  to  the  brain. 

The  Best  Way  to  Teach  Boys  and  Girls. 

It  was  once  said  by  the  French  philosopher,  Diderot,  that  "the  best  way  to 
educate  a  child  is  to  tell  it  stories,  and  let  it  tell  stories  to  you." 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  iihilosophy  in  this  remark,  and  it  can  be  farther 
extended,  for  there  is  an  ambulating  out-door  education  as  well  as  a  school-room 
education;  the  one  is  obtained  by  walking  among  and  talking  about  whatever 
comes  in  your  way ;  the  other  by  the  study  of  books,  and  the  use  of  slates  and 
pencils  and  blackboards. 

It  would  seem,  however,  that  in  many  school  districts  the  out-door  instruction 
is  altogether  too  much  neglected;  education  being  conducted  too  much  upon 
the  principle  of  looking  out  of  the  window  at  things  instead  of  visiting  them, 
and  learning  their  properties  and  uses. 

The  student  can  look  out  of  his  window  and  call  his  horse  by  five  or  six  dif- 
erent  names  in  as  many  languages,  yet  the  stable-boy,  who  can  only  call  it  a 
horse,  knows  far  more  about  its  nature,  disposition  and  properties  than  the 
student. 

Education  consists  too  much  in  naming  things,  when  it  should  be  more  con- 
versant with  their  properties  and  uses.  It  should  connect  words  with  ideas, 
and  as  much  as  they  will  permit,  with  objects.  If  we  instruct  our  children 
orally,  while  walking  in  the  streets  or  fields  or  forests,  upon  nature  and  its 
treasures,  words,  ideas  and  objects  will  be  in  closer  connection  with  each  other 
than  it  would  be  possible  to  bring  them  in  a  school-room  lesson. 


I20  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

And  we  think  that  the  teacher  should  take  his  scholars  not  only  into  the 
fields,  but  into  the  streets,  and  on  the  railways,  and  in  the  shipping  yards,  and 
into  manufactories ;  and  not  only  instruct  them  in  all  their  belongings,  but  also 
elicit  from  them  their  own  impressions,  inquiries  and  thoughts.  lie  should 
walk  and  talk  with  them  as  well  as  listen  to  the  lessons  that  are  learned  by 
heart,  only  to  be  soon  forgotten.  The  Kindergartens  of  childhood  should  be 
introduced  with  a  wider  range  for  the  culture  of  youth. 

How  to  Economize  Time. 

A  great  deal  of  time  and  annoyance  might  be  saved  if  housekeepers  would 
bring  some  )<ystem  into  their  daily  occupation  ;  and  it  is  an  excellent  plan  to 
time  yourself  in  the  performance  of  certain  duties,  and  this  is  particularly  so  in 
the  preparing  of  the  three  meals  of  the  day. 

We  all  know  housewives  who  can  so  arrange  their  work  that  they  have  plenty 
of  time  not  only  to  sew,  but  to  visit  and  entertain  company,  and  also  to  read 
the  current  literature  of  the  day ;  while  others  will  work  all  the  time  and  not 
accomplish  half  as  much.  The  secret  is  in  their  executive  ability  ;  they  have  a 
system.  They  know  how  to  x^erform  their  labors  in  a  given  time,  and  set  their 
minds  to  do  it  and  do  not  allow  themselves  to  stop  and  talk,  or  dilly  dally  about 
little  things,  but  take  heed  to  the  minutes. 

Preparation  for  dinner  can  be  made  to  occupy  nearly  all  the  time  from  break- 
fast until  noon,  and  in  many  families  it  does  so. 

To  be  sure,  there  are  some  dishes,  soup  for  instance,  that  requires  to  be 
cooked  all  the  forenoon,  but  it  needs  little  care,  as  it  can  simmer  upon  the  back 
part  of  the  stove,  and  after  the  potatoes  and  other  vegetables  are  pared,  they 
can  be  left  to  soak  in  water  until  time  to  be  placed  on  the  stove.  The  meat 
also  can  be  skewered  and  put  into  the  di'ipping-pan,  until  time  to  be  roasted. 

Knowledge  of  the  time  needed  for  cooking  each  article  is  indispensable  to  a 
good  cook,  and  to  secure  punctuality  at  meal-time.  And  no  care  can  preserve 
an  article  of  food  in  a  tempting  condition,  if  it  is  intended  to  be  eaten  at  once, 
but  is  kept  in  the  oven  sometime  before  it  is  served. 

It  is  really  a  work  of  art  to  cook  a  tempting  meal  and  serve  it  in  a  perfect 
condition ;  and  it  takes  a  good  amount  of  brains  to  enable  one  to  do  it  without 
becoming  flurried. 

The  ability  to  prepare  meals  in  a  short  time,  however,  is  an  accomplishment 
that  any  housekeeper  of  average  capacity  can  acquire,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree, 
by  thought  and  practice.  Accustom  yourself  to  prepare  each  article  in  a  given 
time,  looking  at  the  clock,  rather  than  out  of  the  window,  when  the  work  is  being 
done.  Every  one  knows  how  rapidly  a  meal  can  be  arranged,  when  an  emer- 
gency occurs.  Why  not  fe*;!  the  pressure  of  an  emergency  every  day,  and  thus 
procure  time  for  occupation  in  some  other  branches  than  cookery? 

Spread  the  table  between  boiling  the  potatoes  and  broiling  the  steak,  or  bast- 
ing the  meat,  and  learn  to  do  it  expeditiously — having  the  cloth  nicely  folded. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  121 

and  all  ready  to  spread  in  a  moment ;  and  be  sure  that  the  plates  are  so  hot  that 
the  gravy  will  not  congeal  into  fat,  and  that  the  salt-cellars  are  freshly  filled, 
•which  should  be  done  directly  after  breakfast.  As  we  said,  at  the  commence- 
ment, system  is  needed  in  all  things,  and  nowhere  will  it  work  to  lirtter  advan- 
tage than  in  culinary  operations.  The  merchant  and  manufactun.T  might  as 
well  expect  to  manage  their  business  affairs  successfully  without  its  aid,  as  the 
housekeeper,  and  the  mother  of  a  family,  to  perform  the  functions  of  her  office. 

To  Whiten  the  Shin, 

Lemon-juice  and  glycerine  will  whiten  the  hands  and  face,  beautifully.  At 
night  pour  a  little  glycerine  into  the  palm  of  your  hand,  and  add  a  few  drops  of 
lemon-juice  to  it ;  and  rub  it  all  over  the  face,  neck  and  hands.  If  you  are 
burned  by  the  sun  or  wind,  do  it  both  night  and  morning. 

Care  of  Famili/  Stores. 

The  flour  barrel  should  be  kept  in  a  dry  store-room,  and  covered  tightly,  so  as 
to  exclude  flies  and  dust.  The  flour  scoop  and  the  sieve  can  be  kept  in  it,  if 
they  are  never  dampened  at  all.  In  many  store-rooms  there  is  a  special  closet 
for  both  the  flour  and  sugar  barrel,  with  an  opened  door  to  put  them  in  and  out, 
and  a  close-fitting  lid  ov^er  them  ;  but  it  is  well  to  keep  them  also  covered  with 
their  own  heads,  which  slioidd  be  fastened  together  with  a  slat,  or  bit  of  lath- 
ing, when  first  opened.  Unbolted  flour  should  be  stored  in  kegs,  or  covered 
tubs,  or  the  small  tea-chests  that  are  so  much  used  now.  It  is  better,  when  pur- 
chased in  small  quantities.  Indian  meal  should  be  kept  in  the  same  manner. 
If  it  is  stirred  up  occasionallj',  it  is  improved  ;  as  it  is  apt  to  become  musty  and 
sour,  a  little  at  a  time  is  preferable. 

Buckwheat,  rice,  hominy  and  ground  rice  must  be  purchased  in  small  quanti- 
ties, also,  and  kept  tightly  covered,  as  they  are  liable  to  be  infested  with  small, 
black  bugs.  Tapioca,  sago,  pearl-barley,  farina,  corn-starch,  isinglass,  vermicelli, 
macaroni,  arrowroot  and  oatmeal,  are  all  desirable  articles  of  food,  for  break- 
fast or  dinner  dishes,  and  they  should  be  found  in  every  store-room,  but  should 
be  purchased  in  small  quantities,  and  kept  in  small  wooden  boxes,  or  covered 
jars.  They  will  give  a  pleasing  variety  of  food  which  is  healthful,  for  both  chil- 
dren and  adults,  and  often  palatable  for  invalids.  Sugars  can  be  kept  in  quan- 
tities, if  you  are  sure  of  your  servants'  honesty.  Cut  loaf  for  the  table,  and 
granulated  for  preserves,  etc.,  and  pulverized  for  berries  and  cake.  Wooden 
buckets,  or  kegs,  will  store  these  well.  If  you  will  draw  a  wide  chalk-mark 
around  the  top  of  them,  no  ant  can  molest  the  sugars. 

Butter  should  be  kept  in  the  coolest  and  dryest  place  your  surroundings 
afford,  and  where  there  are  no  spices,  or  salt  fish  of  any  kind.  Sweet,  fresh 
atmosphere  is  very  needful  for  keeping  butter  sweet.  Stone,  eartheru,  or  wood, 
are  the  best  to  store  it  in. 


122  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

Lard  and  drippings  should  be  kept  as  cool  and  dry  as  x^ossible,  and  stone 
jars  are  the  best  for  thoni. 

Tea  and  coffee  and  spices  should  not  be  kept  in  the  same  box,  as  they  flavor 
each  other.  Neither  should  they  be  stored  with  buckwheat,  hominy,  oatmeal, 
or  cracked  wheat  and  rice  flour,  as  they  impart  a  disagi-eeable  taste  to  them. 

Raisins,  currants  and  citrons  should  be  stored  in  a  cool  place  by  themselves, 
in  boxes  or  jars. 

Salt  is  spoiled  if  kept  in  a  damp  place,  as  it  takes  np  the  moisture  that  is  in 
the  atmospliere.  It  should  be  carefully  covered  in  glass  jars  or  wooden  boxes, 
and  powdered  and  dried  in  the  oven  before  using  it  on  the  table. 

Vinegar  is  the  best  if  made  from  cider.  It  is  well  to  purchase  the  cider  in  a 
keg  or  barrel,  and  store  it  in  the  cellar  with  the  bung  out.  If  it  does  not  turn 
to  vinegar  rapidly,  turn  it  out  into  large  jars,  and  cover  the  mouth  of  them 
with  muslin,  and  place  them  in  the  sun.  If  "mother"  is  needed,  dip  large 
pieces  of  blotting  paper  into  molasses  and  put  them  into  the  jars. 

To  Know  if  Wines  are  Colored, 

M.  de  CJierinlle  gives  the  following  useful  hints  for  deciding  whether  red 
wines  are  artificially  colored  or  not.  Pour  into  a  glass  a  small  quantity  of  the 
liquid,  and  dissolve  a  bit  of  potash  in  it.  If  no  sediment  forms,  and  if  the  wine 
assumes  a  greenish  hue,  it  has  not  been  artificially  colored ;  if  a  violet  sediment 
forms,  it  has  been  colored  with  elder  or  mulberries ;  if  the  sediment  is  red,  it 
has  been  colored  with  beet  root  or  Pernambuco  wood ;  if  purplish,  with  logwood ; 
if  yellow,  with  phytolacca  berries ;  if  violet  blue,  with  privet  berries ;  if  pale 
violet,  with  sunflowers. 

Prevention  of  Dampness  in  ITonses. 

Damp  walls  are  often  a  great  trouble  in  houses  that  are  recently  built,  and  in 
moist  climates  precautions  should  be  taken  to  keep  the  dampness  out  of  the 
buildings.  It  can  be  prevented  by  a  thorough  application  of  asphaltum  to  the 
upper  portions  of  the  foundation,  or  to  several  of  the  lower  tiers  of  brick,  for  if 
the  brick  work  is  well  covered  with  it,  moisture  cannot  enter  the  house.  The 
asphaltum  can  be  dissolved  in  turpentine. 

Another  method  is  also  recommended :  Take  three-quarters  of  a  pound  of 
mottled  soap,  and  shave  it  up- thin  into  a  gallon  of  boiling  water,  and  spread 
the  hot  solution  over  the  outer  surface  of  the  brick-work  with  a  large  brush, 
taking  care  not  to  work  it  to  a  lather. 

Let  it  dry  in  for  twenty-four  hours,  then  wash  it  over  with  a  solution  formed 
of  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  ahun  dissolved  in  two  gallons  of  water,  and  applied 
like  the  soap  and  water.  The  work  should  not  be  done  in  damp  weather.  The 
soap  and  alum  naturally  decompose  each  other,  and  form  an  insoluble  varnish 
which  the  rain  cannot  penetrate,  and  the  cause  of  dampness  is  effectually 
renaoved. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  123 

Alum  will  also  prevent  mildew.  Cloths  dipped  into  strong  alum  water  are 
proof  against  this  disagreeable  fungus. 

If  alum  is  put  into  paste  that  is  used  for  scrap-books,  it  will  prevent  mildew 
and  mold,  and  it  will  keep  the  paste  in  a  good  condition  for  weeks,  even  if  it  is 
left  in  an  open  bowl. 

As  damp  walls  are  sure  generators  of  consumption  and  rheumatism,  it  is  well 
to  exercise  ncHidful  precautions  to  prevent  them,  and  these  simple  remedies  have 
been  recommended  by  the  Journal  of  Chemislrij. 

How  to  Brush  Clothes, 

All  woolen  clothing  is  liable  to  gather  dust,  and  requires  an  occasional  beat- 
ing to  cleanse  it,  before  brushing.  The  best  way  to  do  this  is  to  spread  the  gar- 
ment upon  a  small  clothes-horse,  and  beat  it  gently  with  a  switch,  ov  a  lady's 
riding-whip,  and  do  not  strike  too  hard,  but  beat  it  gently.  Rub  softly  between 
the  hands  any  spots  of  mud  that  seem  firmly  set,  and  be  sure  that  the  garment 
is  perfectly  dry  before  you  commence  to  clean  it. 

Two  clothes-brushes  should  be  at  hand,  but  do  not  use  the  hard  one,  except- 
ing to  brush  away  fixed  dirt.  The  soft  brush  will  not  wear  the  nap  of  broad- 
cloth, and  it  will  remove  all  lint,  dust  and  hairs  ;  an  old  brush  is  also  better  tlian 
a  new  one,  for,  after  the  sharp  edges  of  the  bristles  are  somewhat  worn,  they  will 
take  off  the  dust  more  effectually.  "What  is  called  a  blacking  brush,  is  one  of 
the  best  brushes  that  can  be  found  to  clean  clothes,  but,  of  course,  it  must  never 
have  been  used  on  boots  or  shoes. 

After  dusting  a  coat,  spread  it  out  on  a  table,  with  the  collar  toward  your  left 
hand,  and  brush  the  inside  of  the  collar,  and  then  the  back  and  sleeves.  The 
nap  of  the  cloth  is  towards  tlie  skirts  of  a  coat,  so  always  brush  it  downwards. 
Wipe  the  dust  fi'om  the  table  before  you  turn  the  garment  on  the  other  side  ; 
brush  the  two  lappels,  and,  lastly,  the  outside  of  the  collar,  and  then  fold  it  over 
and  brush  in  the  same  way. 

A  gentleman's  wardrobe  should  be  covered  with  a  sheet,  if  it  is  not  dust  proof, 
and,  as  clothes  are  apt  to  acquire  an  unpleasant  odor,  when  kept  closely  shut  up 
for  any  length  of  time,  they  should  be  aired,  at  least,  once  a  week. 

Be  particular  to  keep  the  clothes-brushes  shut  up  in  a  drawer,  when  not  in  use, 
and  occasionally  wash  them  in  a  little  saleratus  and  water,  and  rub  them  thor- 
oughly on  paper  placed  over  the  edge  of  a  table. 

now  to  Put  Dotvti  Canton  Matting. 

As  there  is  a  right  and  wrong  way  of  doing  everything,  it  may  not  come  amiss 
to  our  readers  to  learn  the  right  way  of  putting  down  Canton  mattings,  partic- 
ularly as  nearly  e^-ery  one  pursues  the  wrong  way. 

Most  persons  cut  the  lengths  to  match  the  floor,  and  then  place  them  upon  it, 
and  drive  quantities  of  tacks  up  and  down  the  edges.     To  be  sure,  this  will  hold 


124  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

the  breadths  in  place,  but  it  ruins  the  matting,  as  every  tack  will  break  one  or 
more  straws,  and  it  also  injures  the  floor. 

Canton  mattings  are  woven  on  boats,  in  short  pieces,  which  are  afterwards 
joined  together,  and,  after  the  matting  has  been  cut  in  proper  lengths,  these 
places  should  be  sewed  across  with  strong  carpet  thread,  to  keep  them  from 
opening. 

Next,  sew  the  breadths  together,  as  you  do  woolen  carpets,  and  tlien  lay  it 
down  on  the  floor,  and  tread  it  into  place,  and  nail  by  binding  over  the  edges 
with  a  doubled  piece  of  buff  cambric,  and  inserting  the  nails  through  the  bind- 
ings. 

Mattings  put  down  in  this  way  will  last  nearly  twice  as  long  as  when  tacked 
by  the  breadths.  Some  very  pretty  new  styles  of  mattings  are  now  brought 
from  China,  and  there  are  no  cleaner  and  cooler  coverings  for  the  floor  during 
the  Summer's  heat,  while  the  woolen  carpets  can  be  laid  over  them  in  Winter. 

How  to  MaJce  Hag  Carpets, 

If  you  desire  a  firm  and  durable  carpet  for  yoar  kitchen  floor,  which  can  be 
easily  shaken,  and  turned,  and  cleansed,  make  a  rag  carpet,  or  else  buy  one  of 
the  carpet  dealers,  who  often  keep  them  on  hand. 

Old  flannels,  sheets,  under-garments,  dresses,  in  short,  anything  that  can  be 
cut  up  into  long  strips,  is  available  in  a  rag  carpet.  Even  cotton  materials  can 
be  used,  if  they  are  not  worn  to  rags. 

Cut  the  stuffs  into  strips  about  an  inch  in  width,  and  sew  each  strip  together, 
then  roll  them  into  large  balls  of  about  one  pound  weight.  Allow  from  one  and 
a  quarter  to  one  and  a  half  pounds  of  rags  for  each  square  yard  of  carpeting. 
Of  course,  your  garments  must  all  be  well  washed  and  ironed,  before  you  com- 
mence to  cut  them  up,  and  the  smaller  strips  can  be  sewed  together,  in  a  Mosaic 
or  mixed  up  style,  to  form  a  mixed  up  stripe  in  the  carpet.  If  you  can  obtain 
a  few  pounds  of  remnants  from  a  woolen  factory,  where  red,  blue  and  yellow 
flannels  are  made,  they  will  brighten  the  carpet  wonderfully.  A  stripe  of  vari- 
ous shades  of  red  and  maroon,  is  very  effective. 

Too  much  black  is  not  desirable  for  a  kitchen  carpet,  as  it  catches  dust  so 
quickly ;  but  a  little  mixed  in  with  rod  or  blue  or  yellow,  does  not  come  amiss, 
but  adds  a  grace  to  the  carpet.  White  woolen  rags  can  be  colored  red,  green, 
or  blue  or  brown  with  '■'■Family  Dyes." 

For  the  warp  select  either  brown  or  slate  color  or  a  light  gray.  Allow  one 
pound  of  warp  for  every  three  and  a  quarter  yards  of  carpeting. 

It  is  a  good  plan  to  keep  the  exact  weight  of  your  warp  and  rags,  and  com- 
pare them  with  the  weight  of  the  carpet  when  it  is  brought  back  from  the 
weaving  mill. 

For  a  kitchen  it  is  a  better  plan  to  fasten  small  hooks  or  nails  around  the 
edges  of  the  mop-boards,  and  then  sew  rings  on  to  the  carpet  to  correspond  with 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  125 

them,  and  hook  the  carpet  on,  rather  than  to  nail  it  down,  for  it  can  then  be 
taken  up  on  washing  days,  if  the  kitclien  must  be  used  for  that  work,  and  be 
well  shaken  and  laid  down  again  with  but  little  labor. 

To  Mepaint  Iron  Sedsteads. 

If  the  old  coat  of  paint  is  not  scaled  off  in  spots  so  as  to  make  it  look  rough, 
it  need  not  be  removed,  but  should  be  rubbed  with  glass-paper  to  make  it  very 
smooth.  If  it  is  desired  to  be  painted  black,  take  vegetable  black,  ground  in 
turpentine,  with  a  spot  or  two  of  gold  size  added  to  fix  it,  which  is  flatting. 

Give  two  coats,  then  varnish  with  carriage  varnish.  Use  the  same  method 
if  chocolate  is  preferred.  To  make  the  chocolate  hue,  take  a  little  purple 
brown,  a  pinch  of  vermilion,  ultramarine  blue,  and  a  little  of  the  vegetable 
black.     Paint  with  a  small  brush. 

Care  of  Brooms  and  Siveejniiff. 

If  brooms  are  dipped  into  boiling  suds  once  a  week  they  will  become  very 
tough,  and  will  last  much  longer,  and  sweep  as  well  as  a  new  broom,  after  each 
dipping. 

A  handful  or  two  of  salt  sprinkled  upon  a  carpet  will  carry  the  dust  along 
with  it,  and  make  the  carpet  look  bright  and  clean. 

A  very  dusty  carpet  can  be  cleaned  by  setting  a  pail  of  cold  water  by  the 
door,  and  dipping  the  broom  lightly  into  it,  shaking  off  all  the  drops,  and  then 
sweeping  a  few  yards  with  it.  Repeat  tlie  process  until  the  carpet  is  all  swept, 
and  you  will  be  surprised  to  see  how  soiled  the  water  becomes.  Indeed,  if  the 
room  is  of  any  size  you  will  need  to  throw  it  away  and  fill  it  up  with  fresh 
water  before  you  finish  cleaning  the  carpet.  Snow  sprinkled  on  a  carpet,  and 
swept  off  before  it  has  time  to  melt,  is  also  an  excellent  way  to  clean  a  much 
soiled  carpet.  Indian  meal,  slightly  dampened,  can  also  be  used  with  good 
effect. 

Hints  Ujion  Serviceable  Colors  in  Furniture  and  Carjicts. 

It  is  not  always  the  prettiest  hues  that  will  prove  the  most  serviceable,  and 
when  one  furnishes  a  house  it  is  well  to  take  some  forethought  upon  the  sub- 
ject and  select  the  colors  that  not  only  harmonize  well  with  the  walls,  etc.,  but 
will  also  wear  well.  Blue  is  a  favorite  hue,  yet  it  is  not  advisable  for  rooms 
that  are  in  constant  use,  or  where  the  sunshine  is  constant!}'  admitted,  for  it 
fades  and  soils  easily.  A  bright  crimson,  although  it  lights  up  well,  and  is  a 
cheeiy  color,  is  not  good  to  wear,  for  it  fades  in  spite  of  the  best  of  care.  Green, 
which  was  once  so  much  the  rage,  soon  turns  dingy  and  gray,  and  is  if  any- 
thing worse  than  crimson.  Maroon  is  an  excellent  color  usually  in  furniture, 
and  both  crimson  and  maroon  wear  remarkably  well  in  carpets.  But  a  dark 
red  and  black,  or  green  and  black  carpet  is  an  abomination  to  its  owner,  as  it 


126  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

sho\YS  every  speck  of  dust,  and  every  thread,  and  a  hand  broom  and  dust-pan  is 
in  hourly  requisition.  Various  shades  of  red  in  carpets  are  always' desirable. 
In  carpets,  colors  will  often  wear  well  that  are  not  economical  for  furniture  cov- 
erings. For  instance,  shaded  green  carpets  with  pleasing  tints  of  olive  and 
sage  green  will  wear  admirably.  But  with  gray  and  brown  the  case  alters,  for 
in  carpets  they  are  often  detestable,  but  chairs  and  sofas  upholstered  in  these 
soft,  warm  tints,  usually  prove  satisfactory.  If  more  color  is  required,  relieve 
their  somberness  with  puffs  of  blue,  crimson  or  green,  and  your  room  will  pre- 
sent a  pleasing  appearance. 

Directions  for  Care  of  ITouse  Linen. 

When  linen  has  been  well  dried  and  aired,  and  laid  by  for  use,  nothing  more 
is  necessary  but  to  keep  it  free  from  dampness  and  insects. 

Pei-fumed  linen,  however,  is  agreeable  to  all,  and  a  mixture  of  aromatic  shav- 
ings, leaves  and  flowers  can  be  sewed  up  in  bags  and  laid  in  the  di-awers  or  on 
the  shelves  where  it  is  stored.  The  ingredients  may  consist  of  cedar  shavings, 
powdered  sassafras,  cassia  buds,  branches  of  lavender,  rose  leaves,  stalks  of 
geraniums  and  sweet  verbena.  And  a  few  drops  of  otto  of  rose,  or  oil  of 
neroli,  can  be  dropped  upon  them. 

In  all  cases  it  will  be  the  best  economy  to  repair  both  linen  and  cotton  arti- 
cles before  they  are  sent  to  the  wash.  It  is  also  desirable  to  have  each  article 
numbered  as  well  as  marked,  and  to  so  arrange  them  that  they  will  be  used  in 
regular  turn,  and  all  of  one  set  receive  an  e(iual  amount  of  wear. 

To  Wash  Cretonne  and  Chintz  so  if  trill  Preserve  its  Colors  and 

Gloss. 

When  cretonne  or  chintz  curtains  and  furniture  coverings  have  become  soiled, 
take  them  down  carefully,  and  shake  out  all  the  dust  that  is  on  the  surface, 
and  brush  them  well.  Then  boil  two  pounds  of  rice  in  three  gallons  of  water 
until  it  is  very  soft ;  and  pour  the  whole  into  a  tub.  Let  it  stand  until  comfort- 
ably warm  to  the  hands,  and  put  in  the  curtains  and  coverings,  and  use  the  rice 
for  soap,  washing  them  thoroughly  in  it,  until  they  look  bright  and  clean. 
Rinse  in  water  in  which  some  more  rice  has  been  boiled,  and  strained  off  from 
it.  This  will  answer  instead  of  starch.  Hang  out  on  the  lines  until  nearly 
dry,  and  when  it  is  ironed  it  will  have  all  the  gloss  and  beauty  of  new  chintz. 

If  rice  is  not  as  readily  obtained  as  wheat  bran,  substitute  the  latter,  but  you 
will  have  to  use  more  of  it,  and  it  will  need  more  rinsing  to  free  it  from  the 
bran  than  from  the  rice. 

Tea-spoonfuls  and  Table-sj^oonfiils. 

It  has  been  often  discussed  by  volunteer  guardians  of  the  English  language, 
whether  one  should  say  spoonfuls,  or  spoonsful ;  but  it  is  generally  granted 
that  the  latter  is  the  most  proper  form.     Yet  the  matter  is  of  little  conse- 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  127 

quence  compared  to  the  time-honored  practice  of  prescribing  medicine  by  the 
spoonsful. 

Every  one  knows  that  the  table  and  tea-spoons  of  the  present  day  vary  in 
their  size  greatly,  and  that  they  have  nearly  double  the  fixed  capacity  of  those 
that  were  used  by  our  grandparents.  When  medicine  is  ordered  by  a  physician, 
the  exact  quantity  should  be  given  in  drops  rather  than  spoonsful,  and  then 
there  would  be  no  danger  of  over-dosing  those  who  need  the  assistance  of  drugs. 

Graduated  glasses  have  been  manufactured  for  more  than  fifty  years,  which 
show  exactly  how  nnich  is  held  in  a  spoonful  as  given  in  physicians'  prescrip- 
tions. They  are  also  graduated  for  drops,  and  are  exceedingly  useful  in  admin- 
istering all  kinds  of  fluid  medicines ;  and  it  is  surprising  that  they  are  so  little 
known. 

The  Torments  of  Toothache. 

Xo  one,  not  even  a  philosopher,  can  endure  the  toothache  with  perfect  forti- 
tude and  patience,  and  it  is  one  of  the  most  painful  subjects  of  the  moans  and 
groans  of  humanity.  We  know  that  the  poet,  who  wished  the  most  intense 
torture  to  the  enemies  of  his  country,  could  think  of  nothing  worse  for  them 
than  "  a  twelve  month's  toothache." 

To  alleviate  and  cure  this  intolerable  anguish  ought  to  be  the  object  of  every 
physician.  Amongst  some  new  inventions  we  find  a  dental  syringe,  which  pro- 
fesses to  have  great  success  in  curing  it.  It  is  a  simple  apparatus,  filled  with  a 
fluid  preparation,  and  one  end  of  it  is  inserted  in  the  cavity,  and  the  other,  an 
elastic  bulb,  is  pressed  so  that  only  one  or  two  drops  fall  upon  the  nerve.  This 
preparation  is  harmless  to  sound  teeth,  which  it  is  desirable  to  know,  as  many 
of  the  violent,  burning  nostrums  sold  as  panaceas  to  toothache,  do  much  mischief 
to  the  teeth  that  are  whole. 

Hints  on   Varnishing. 

It  is  a  great  benefit  to  the  housekeeper  to  know  how  to  use  varnish,  and,  with 
its  aid,  renew  the  tarnished  furniture  of  parlor,  bed-room,  or  dining-room. 

The  first  process  in  the  work  is  to  remove  all  soiled  marks,  such  as  smoke,  o\ 
grease  spots,  for  varnish  will  not  dry  well  on  a  soiled  surface ;  therefore,  the 
articles  should  be  washed  thoroughly,  in  soap  and  water,  and  wiped  dry  with  a 
soft  flannel.  The  varnish  can  be  procured  at  any  paint  shop,  and  a  small,  soft 
brush  is  also  needed.  If  articles  are  varnished  in  a  stove-heated  room,  and 
left  to  dry  quickly,  they  will  take  a  brighter  polish,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
•work  will  be  improved.  AVhen  you  desire  to  varnish  drawings  or  engravings, 
first  paint  them  over,  with  a  clear  solution  of  parchment,  or  what  is  called  siz- 
ing. Let  it  dry  in,  and  then  varnish  them,  dipping  the  brush  in  lightly,  and 
taking  care  not  to  put  on  too  much  varnish  at  once. 

Varnishes  are  made  in  three  different  ways,  viz :  with  alcohol,  essential  oil, 
and  fixed  oil.     Alcohol  varnishes  are  made  by  dissolving  resins  or  gums,  in 


128  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

either  naphtha  or  spirits  of  wine.  The  resins  are  broken  up  into  small  bits,  and 
placed  in  a  tin  pail,  or  a  stone  jar,  and  tlie  spirits  or  naphtha  poured  over  them. 
The  pail  or  jar  is  then  placed  in  a  warm  situation,  and  kept  there  until  the 
gums  are  wholly  dissolved.  Such  varnishes  are  as  easily  applied,  as  prepared, 
and  their  odor  is  not  as  disagreeable  as  that  of  varnishes  made  from  oil  and 
turpentine.  But  they  are  not  able  to  resist  moisture,  and  are  not  adapted  to  out- 
of-door  work,  as  they  are  liable  to  crack  and  peel  off,  as  the  naphtha  and  spirits 
evaporate  and  leave  a  gummy  coating  that  will  flake  off  occasionally.  But  when 
oils  are  used,  they  will  form  a  solid  coating  that  no  moisture  can  remove,  and, 
therefore,  they  are  much  more  durable. 

When  essential  oil,  or  oil  of  turpentine  is  used,  the  older  the  varnish,  the  bet- 
ter it  will  be ;  and  it  is  best  to  procure  that  which  has  not  been  recently  ]3re- 
pared. 

Common  resin,  dissolved  in  boiled  linseed  oil,  will  make  a  brilliant  varnish,  but 
it  is  more  apt  to  peel  off  and  crack,  than  gum-shellac,  which  is  more  frequently 
used  for  nice  work.  Gum  copal  is  also  used  in  manufacturing  nice  varnishes, 
also  mastic,  and  sandarac  and  elemi  resin. 

Varnish  for  maps  is  made  with  six  parts  of  mastic  and  three  of  sandarac, 
rubbed  up  with  powdered  glass  ;  the  resins  and  powdered  glass  are  then  dis- 
solved, at  a  moderate  heat,  in  thirty-two  parts  of  spirit ;  and  three  parts  of  Yen- 
ice  turpentine  are  then  added  ;  and  the  whole  is  kept  at  a  moderate  degree  of 
heat,  until  w^ell  mixed  together. 

A  good  copal  varnish,  for  leather-work  and  similar  uses,  can  be  made  by  dis- 
solving eight  parts  of  powdered  gum-copal,  in  forty-five  parts  of  oil  of  spike,  to 
which  one  part  of  camphor  has  been  added.  Heat  the  oil,  and  add  the  powdered 
gum  slowly,  stirring  it  continually. 

A  moderate  degree  of  heat  should  be  employed  in  making  varnishes,  for,  if 
the  oil  is  unduly  heated,  it  may  take  fire;  and  varnishes  prepared  at  a  low  tem- 
perature are,  also,  much  more  durable. 

French  JPolish. 

French  polish  is  a  kind  of  varnish  that  is  much  in  use,  at  present,  for  finish- 
ing all  kinils  of  cheap  furniture.  It  is  made  by  dissolving  five  ounces  and  a 
half  of  gum  shellac  in  one  pint  of  first-proof  alcohol.  Naphtha  is  also  em- 
ployed as  a  solvent,  and  a  little  oil  is  added  to  increase  its  brilliancy.  Six 
ounces  of  gum  shellac  and  one  pint  of  naphtha,  and  a  quarter  of  a  pint  of  lin- 
seed oil,  well  boiled,  will  make  an  excellent  polish. 

Sometimes  a  little  gum  copal,  and  gum  sandarac  are  added,  and  the  compo- 
sition is  made  with  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  gum  shellac,  and  two  ounces  of 
gum  sandarac,  dissolved  in  one  pint  of  spirits  of  wine ;  two  fluid  ounces  of 
copal  varnish,  and  four  ounces  of  linseed  oil  are  then  slowly  stirred  into  it.  If 
the  polish  is  desired  to  be  light-colored,  add  from  two  to  four  drachms  of  oxalic 
acid  to  each  pint  of  the  varnish. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  129 

JIou)  to  Use  the  French  Polish. 

Before  using  the  French  polish  the  wood  should  be  rubbed  as  smooth  as  glass 
with  sand-paper,  then  pour  some  of  the  polish  in  the  center  of  the  surface,  and 
spread  it  over  with  a  rubber,  which  should  be  made  of  a  long  strip  of  thick, 
woolen  cloth,  rolled  up  to  a  width  of  from  one  to  three  inches,  according  to  the 
extent  of  the  surface  to  be  polished.  Moisten  one  of  the  tightly  i-olled  ends 
with  the  polish  by  putting  it  on  to  the  mouth  of  the  bottle,  and  shaking  it  upon 
it.  Then  enclose  the  rubber  with  two  thicknesses  of  soft  linen,  fastening  the 
edges  of  it  at  the  top  of  the  rubber.  Moisten  the  bottom  with  a  drop  or  two  of 
linseed  oil,  and  apply  it  with  a  little  of  the  polish,  in  one  direction  only.  When 
one  coat  has  been  carefully  laid  on  and  dried  in,  apply  another  coat,  and  so  on 
until  three  have  been  rubbed  in.  Then  finish  the  work  by  rubbing  it  gently 
with  a  piece  of  linen  just  moistened  with  both  spirits  and  oil.  French  polish 
can  be  colored  red  with  alkaret  or  red  sanders  wood ;  or  yellow  by  the  use  of 
gamboge  or  tumeric.  Dissolve  them  in  spirits  of  wine,  and  strain  through  a 
cloth  into  the  varnish. 

To  Ventilate  Closets  and  Pantries. 

Architects  sometimes  have  much  to  answer  for  in  the  way  that  they  plan 
houses  for  us  to  live  in ;  and  this  matter  of  ventilation  for  closets  and  pantries 
is  rarely  considered  by  them.  Yet  it  is  a  serious  omission,  and  doubly  objec- 
tionable in  connection  with  places  devoted  to  the  keeping  of  food  or  to  the  stor- 
ing of  linen  and  clothing,  as  every  good  housekeeper  fully  understands. 

Yet,  with  a  little  trouble,  the  evil  may  be  greatly  remedied.  Call  in  a  house 
carpenter  and  ask  him  to  bore  a  few  holes  in  the  upper  part  of  the  door,  and  if 
it  is  possible,  make  an  aperture  in  the  walls  also,  so  as  to  have  a  good  draught 
through  the  closet.  This  is  particularly  desirable  in  closets  where  food  is  to  be 
kept,  for  if  there  is  no  ventilation  the  mingled  odors  of  it  will  soon  become  stale 
and  offensive.  h 

When  closets  are  apt  to  become  damp  and  moldy  in  a  hot,  rainy  season,  it  is 
an  excellent  plan  to  keep  a  bucket  of  fresh  lime  in  the  room,  as  it  will  absorb 
the  moistvire  and  render  the  air  pure.  Of  course  it  will  be  needful  as  it  be- 
comes fully  slaked  and  dry  to  renew  it  in  a  fresh  state,  and  the  slaked  lime  can 
be  used  to  purify  drains  and  the  like. 

This  is  also  an  excellent  antidote  in  closets  where  boots  and  clothing  are  apt 
•  to  become  covered  with  mold.  Of  course  you  must  not  let  any  water  touch  the 
lime,  as  it  might  set  a  wooden  bucket  on  fire,  but  air  slaked  lime  is  harmless. 

Bottled  Light. 

Countless  accidents,  as  every  one  knows,  arise  from  the  use  of  matches.     To 
obtain  light  without  using  them,  and  so  without  the  danger  of  setting  things 
on  fire,  an  ingenious  contrivance  is  now  used  by  all  the  watchmen  of  Paris  in 
9 


I30  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

magazines  -where  explosive  or  inflammable  materials  are  kept.  Take  an  oblong 
phial  of  the  whitest  and  the  clearest  glass,  and  put  a  piece  of  phosphorus,  about 
the  size  of  a  pea,  into  it.  Pour  some  olive  oil,  heated  to  the  boiling  point,  into 
the  phial,  filling  it  about  two-thirds  full,  and  then  cork  it  tightly. 

When  the  light  grows  dim  its  power  can  be  increased  by  taking  out  the  cork 
and  letting  in  a  supply  of  fresh  air.  In  Winter  it  is  sometimes  needful  to  heat 
the  phial  between  the  bands  to  make  the  oil  fluid.  Such  a  light  will  last  for 
six  months  at  least. 

Decoration  in  Indelible  Inlc. 

Drawings  on  prints  can  be  imitated  with  good  effect  in  marking  indelible 
inks  upon  napkins,  tidies  and  doilies. 

A  moderately  soft  quill  pen  is  better  adapted  to  the  work  than  steel  pens, 
and  the  strokes  should  be  made  as  rapidly  as  is  possible,  with  firmness  and 
accuracy.  No  preparation  of  the  fabric  is  needed  ;  but  the  work  should  be 
smoothed  with  a  moderately  heated  iron,  before  it  becomes  perfectly  dry. 

Monograms,  initials,  etc.,  can  all  be  finely  executed  by  this  method,  and  there 
is  no  prettier  way  of  marking  house  and  table  linen. 

To  Malce  Walking  Sticks, 

Tourists  often  like  to  carry  away  a  walking  stick  fi'om  some  renowned  local- 
ity as  a  memento  of  the  place,  and  simple  directions  for  making  them  may 
prove  of  use  to  some  of  our  readers. 

A  handle  to  a  straight  stick  can  be  turned  by  boiling  that  portion  of  it  from 
ten  minutes  to  quarter  of  an  hour,  in  a  large  pot  of  water ;  then  bending  it 
round  a  circular  bit  of  wood,  to  give  it  the  required  curve,  and  tying  it  firmly. 
Let  it  remain  so  for  several  weeks,  or  until  the  wood  has  become  perfectly  dry, 
and  the  support  can  be  cut  away.  The  bending  should  be  done  very  slowly, 
so  as  not  to  break  the  fibers  of  the  wood  upon  which  the  strain  is  the  greatest, 
nor  to  injure  the  bark.  Small  oak  saplings,  when  used  for  sticks,  should  have 
the  bark  removed,  and  if  cut  in  May  they  can  easily  be  peeled.  Cherry,  hazel, 
holly  and  white  thorn  should  have  the  bark  preserved,  and  the  knots  cut  off, 
not  too  closely,  but  so  as  to  present  a  jagged  appearance.  Walking  sticks 
hooked  at  the  handle  are  the  best  to  walk  with ;  and  if  a  coat  of  varnish  is 
given  to  them,  their  appearance  is  as  much  improved,  as  their  durability  is 
increased. 

To  Keep  the  Hands  White  anil  Soft. 

Wash  them  with  sand  soap,  and,  immediately  afterwards,  with  fresh  water. 
Then,  while  they  are  wet,  put  into  the  palm  of  each  hand  a  very  small  portion 
of  rose  cream,  or  almond  cream,  such  as  gentlemen  use  for  shaving.  It  can  be 
purchased  at  any  perfumer's.  Rub  the  cream  thoroughly  into  the  hands,  until 
it  forms  a  strong  lather,  which  will  make  them  very  soft  and  smooth,  as  the 
pores  were  well  opened  by  the  friction  of  the  sand  soap. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  131 

In  some  very  fine  and  delicate  skins,  the  sand  soap  may  leave  an  uncomfort- 
able irritation,  and,  if  it  is  not  immediately  removed  by  the  rose  cream,  substi- 
tute oatmeal  or  Indian  meal  for  the  soap,  and  use  the  shaving-cream  in  the  same 
way. 

The  Xeed  of  Cleanliness  in  Everything. 

It  has  been  well  said  that  cleanliness  not  only  has  a  powerful  influence  on 
the  health  and  preservation  of  the  body,  but  also  upon  the  civilization  of  the 
mind.  For  the  least  civilized  nations  are  always  the  filthiest,  in  their  homes. 
And  no  one  can  deny  that  cleanliness  in  our  garments,  as  well  as  in  our  dwell- 
ings, pi'events  the  pernicious  effects  of  dampness,  of  bad  odors,  and  of  conta- 
gious vapors  arising  from  substances  left  to  decay.  Cleanliness,  also,  keeps  up  a 
healthy  circulation,  and  refreshes  and  invigorates  the  blood,  and  animates  and 
stimulates  the  mind. 

And,  as  a  general  thing,  we  see  that  those  who  attend  to  the  cleanliness  of 
their  persons  and  their  habitations,  are  more  healthy,  and  less  exposed  to  dis- 
eases, than  those  who  live  in  a  filthy  condition,  and  are  only  a  little  higher  than 
the  brutes.  Cleanliness,  also,  brings  in  its  train  habits  of  order  and  arrange- 
ment, which  are  among  the  first  and  best  methods  and  elements  of  happiness 
in  domestic  life. 

JIow  to  utilize  Old  Tin  Cans. 

Canned  vegetables  and  fruits  are  so  generally  in  use  at  present,  and  the  empty 
cans  accumulate  so  rapidly,  that  our  readers  may  like  to  learn  to  what  uses 
they  can  be  put  to,  for,  with  but  little  labor,  they  really  can  be  made  of  some 
service. 

To  commence,  you  must  take  off  the  tops  of  them,  by  placing  the  cans  top 
side  down  upon  the  stove,  and  letting  the  solder  melt  off,  and  then  the  lid  can 
be  easily  removed.  Punch  holes  on  opposite  sides,  near  the  edges,  and  you  will 
have  a  nice  little  paste  or  paint  bucket,  or  pail  to  hang  up,  to  hold  matches,  or 
nails,  or  the  like. 

Take  off  the  top,  cut  to  a  proper  shape  with  a  tinman's  scissors,  and  fasten  on 
a  handle,  by  means  of  a  screw  through  a  hole  in  the  bottom,  and  you  have  a 
sugar  or  a  flour  scoop.  Or,  you  can  make  a  small  saucepan,  by  cutting  down  a 
can  to  the  right  size,  and  leaving  a  strip  on  each  side,  to  be  bent  at  right  angles  ; 
or,  better  yet,  leave  it  wide  enough  to  wind  around  a  light  withe. 

A  coarse  grater,  for  horse-radish,  bread,  etc.,  can  be  made  by  cutting  a  can 
open,  and  tacking  a  piece  of  it  to  a  flat  board,  and  making  the  holes  with  a  tri- 
angular punch  that  can  be  improvised  from  a  nail,  or  a  three-cornered  file. 

A  hanging  flower-pot  can  be  made,  by  boring  three  or  four  holes  in  the  edges, 
and  suspending  it  with  cords,  and  covering  the  tin  with  a  thick  crochet-work  in 
scarlet  wools,  and  adding  tassels  to  it.  Fill  up  the  pot  with  rich  earth,  and  plant 
the  "Wandering  Jew  in  it,  and  it  will  be  "  a  thing  of  beauty  "  made  from  the  most 
useless  of  rubbish,  by  the  aid  of  a  little  ingenuity  and  a  trailing  plant. 


132  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

An  JExtemjtoraneous  Ice- House, 

There  are  many  families  who  are  prevented  from  storing  ice,  on  account  of 
the  cost  of  an  ice-house,  although  one  can  be  made  of  the  rudest  material,  and 
any  man,  who  can  handle  nails  and  hammer,  can  construct  it. 

Build  a  pen,  in  the  coldest  location  about  the  house — the  place  where  the 
snow  lies  the  longest  in  the  Spring  will  be  the  best.  The  larger  the  pen,  the 
better  the  ice  will  keep.  Make  the  bottom  level,  and  lay  boards  along  it, 
not  very  close  together,  so  that  the  ice  can  have  a  little  drainage.  Cover  the 
boards  a  foot  in  depth  with  spent  tan  bark,  or  sawdust.  Nail  two  boards  upon 
each  of  the  four  sides,  which  should  be  made  of  posts,  two  of  them  a  foot  or  two 
higher  than  the  others,  and  put  inner  boards,  filling  up  the  spaces  with  the  spent 
tan,  or  sawdust,  or  charcoal  dust. 

Cut  tlie  cakes  of  ice  in  good  shape  to  handle,  and  pack  them  closely,  filling  up 
the  interstices  with  pounded  ice,  and  turn  a  pailful  of  water  over  each  layer,  if 
it  is  freezing  weather  when  the  ice  is  packed. 

As  the  pile  of  ice  is  built  up,  nail  on  some  more  boards  ;  and  when  it  is  piled 
up  about  eight  feet  high,  cover  the  top  with,  at  least,  a  foot  and  a  half  of  either 
tan,  sawdust,  or  straw.     If  the  latter,  tread  it  down  firmly. 

INIake  a  roof  of  boards  or  slabs,  slantiug  to  the  north,  steep  enough  to  shed 
water,  and  fasten  it  on  with  slabs  of  wood  laid  the  other  way. 

Such  a  pile  of  ice  can  be  cut,  drawn  and  packed,  in  a  day,  by  two  men,  and  a 
yoke  of  oxen  attached  to  a  sled ;  and  it  will  add  greatly  to  the  comfort  and 
health  of  the  family.  When  it  is  wanted,  lift  the  ice  out  at  one  end,  and  cover 
it  tightly.  An  ice-box  can  be  made  to  hold  a  large  cake  of  ice,  and  leave  room 
to  keep  meat,  milk,  etc.,  and  it  would,  doubtless,  last  from  five  to  six  days,  so 
that  the  pile  need  not  be  disturbed  daily.  The  saving  in  articles  of  food  alone, 
will  more  than  pay  for  the  cost  and  trouble  in  procuring  the  ice. 

The  Value  of  a  Scrap-Jiooh; 

Every  one  who  takes  a  newspaper  containing  various  items  connected  with 
housekeeping,  the  toilette,  etc.,  will  often  regret  to  have  it  torn  up,  on  account 
of  some  little  scrap  in  it  which  was  of  importance  to  them;  but,  if  a  scrap- 
book  was  only  at  hand,  the  scissors  could  have  quickly  transferred  the  item  to 
its  pages. 

If  you  have  never  been  accustomed  to  preserve  short  articles,  and  tiny  scraps 
in  this  manner,  you  cannot  understand  the  pleasure  you  would  take  in  turning 
over  tlie  pages  of  the  book,  and  reading  a  bit  here  and  a  scrap  there.  Perhaps 
a  clioice  bit  of  poetry  will  meet  your  eye,  and  bring  tears  to  its  lids  ;  or  a  witty 
anecdote  will  make  the  room  ring  with  your  laughter.  Or,  valuable  "  Hints  " 
or  "  Recipes  "  may  claim  your  attention  just  at  the  time  you  needed  the  knowl- 
edge they  contain. 

Indeed,  you  can  hardly  read  a  single  paper  at  the  present  time,  but  you  will 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  133 

find  something  in  its  columns  that  is  worthy  of  preservation,  and  which  will  be 
of  service  to  you  many  times  during  your  life. 

Or,  you  may  procure  a  choice  thought,  which  is  far  more  precious  than  a  jewel 
set  in  gold  ;  and,  if  you  will  hoard  these  rare  gems,  year  after  year,  you  will  gar- 
ner up  a  treasure-book  that  will  not  only  be  of  service  to  yourself,  but  also  to 
your  children  and  grandchildren,  in  decades  of  years  yet  to  come. 

And,  were  it  not  for  such  books,  this  collection  of  "  Household  Hii.ts  and  Rec- 
ipes "  would  never  have  been  offered  for  your  selection. 


Open   Windows  at  Night, 

"  Very  much  has  been  written  on  this  subject,  and  not  always  wisely,  for  who- 
ever sleeps  uncomfortably  cool  will  surely  not  increase  in  health ;  and  to  open  a 
window  sky-high  when  the  mercury  is  at  zero,  unless  a  large  fire  is  kept  up,  is 
surely  an  absurdity.  Science  proves  that  the  colder  a  sleeping-room  is,  the  more 
unhealthy  does  it  become,  because  cold  condenses  the  carbonic  acid  foi-med  by 
the  breathing  of  the  sleeper;  and  it  settles  near  the  floor  and  is  re-inhaled,  and 
if  in  a  very  condensed  form,  it  may  produce  death. 

"Therefore  we  should  be  governed  by  circumstances  in  ventilation,  and  never 
open  the  windows  so  that  a  draught  falls  upon  the  bed,  or  makes  the  room  too 
cold  for  comfort.  Inflaumiation  of  the  lungs  has  often  been  caused  by  sleeping 
in  too  cold  a  room. 

"  An  open  door  and  an  open  fire-place  are  quite  enough  for  ordinary  j^urposes 
in  very  cold  weather. 

"  In  miasmatic  localities,  and  these  are  along  water-courses,  beside  mill-ponds, 
marshes,  bayous,  river  bottoms,  flat  lands  and  the  like,  it  is  most  important  from 
the  first  of  August  until  several  severe  frosts  have  occurred,  to  sleep  with  win- 
dows closed,  because  the  cool  night  air  causes  the  poisonous  emanations  to  be- 
come condensed,  and  make  the  air  heavy  ;  and  if  they  are  allowed  to  enter  the 
sleeping- room,  they  will  corrupt  and  poison  the  blood.  By  daylight  these  con- 
densations are  made  so  compact  by  the  coolness  of  the  night,  that  they  lie  too 
near  the  ground  to  be  breathed  into  the  sj'stem  ;  but  as  the  sun  begins  to  ascend 
these  miasmas  also  begin  to  rise  to  the  height  of  several  feet  above  the  ground, 
and  are  then  taken  freely  into  the  system. 

"  Therefore  the  hours  of  sunrise  and  sunset  are  the  most  unhealthy  of  all  the 
twenty-four  in  the  localities  named,  and  noon-tide,  when  the  sun  is  the  hottest, 
is  the  most  healthful  portion  of  the  day,  because  the  miasm  is  so  much  rarified 
that  it  ascends  rapidly  in  the  air. 

"The  general  lessons  to  be  learned,"  says  Dr.  Hall,  "are: — 1st.  Avoid  expo- 
sure to  the  outdoor  air  in  miasmatic  localities,  for  the  hours  including  sunrise 
and  sunset.  2d.  Have  a  blazing  fire  on  the  hearth  of  the  sitting  room  to  rarify 
the  air.  3d.  Take  breakfast  before  going  out  of  doors  in  the  morning,  and  tea 
before  sundown,  and  do  not  be  out  late  at  ui"ht." 


134  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

The  Use  of  Paper  in  the  Household. 

Newspapers  and  wrapping  papers  can  be  put  to  many  valuable  uses  in  tlie 
household.  Few  housekeepers  can  find  the  time  to  black  their  cooking  stoves 
every  day;  but  even  if  they  wash  them  daily,  in  clean  water,  they  will  soon 
become  quite  shabby;  but  if  they  are  rubbed  over  with  newspaper,  every 
morning,  after  the  dishes  are  washed,  they  will  keep  black  for  a  long  time. 
If  a  spot  of  grease  or  stain  of  some  kind  adheres,  moisten  the  paper  a  little  and 
rub  it  off. 

Newspaper  or  wrapping  paper  will  keep  the  outside  of  the  tea  and  coffee-pot, 
and  all  tin  utensils  about  the  stove  brighter  than  the  old  way  of  washing  them 
often  in  soap-suds. 

Rubbing  with  dry  paper  is  the  best  way  to  polish  knives,  spoons  and  brasses, 
after  they  have  been  scoured  clean,  and  if  a  little  wheat  flour  is  sprinkled  over 
the  paper  while  rubbing  them,  it  will  make  them  shine  like  silver  or  gold.  For 
polishing  lamp  chimneys,  and  for  washing  mirrors  and  windows  it  is  far  pref- 
erable to  any  kind  of  cloth.  > 

Preserves  and  pickles  will  keep  much  better  if  brown  paper  is  tied  over  them. 
Canned  fruits  are  also  better  if  a  j)iece  of  writing  paper  is  laid  directly  on  the 
top  of  the  fruit. 

Paper  is  much  more  serviceable  to  put  under  carpets  than  straw  or  hay.  It  is 
also  warmer,  and  does  not  rattle  as  you  step  upon  it.  There  is  a  kind  of  paper 
especially  manufactured  for  this  purpose.  There  are  papers  also  in  use  for 
sheathing  the  walls  of  the  house,  and  for  overlaying  the  roofs.  Indeed  the 
uses  for  paper  have  ihcreased  greatly  in  the  past  quarter  of  a  century,  and 
whoever  will  invent  paper  dishes  of  cheaper  manufacture  that  those  of  papier- 
mache,  will  be  a  benefactor  to  his  race. 

Ilecijf)e  for  A  Lady's  Dress, 

The  following  recipe  for  a  lady's  dress,  is  found  in  the  works  of  Tertullian : 
Let  simplicity  be  your  white,  and  chastity  be  your  vermilion  ;  dress  your  eye- 
brows with  modesty  ;  and  your  lips  with  reservedness.     Let  instruction  be  your 
ear-rings,  and  a  ruby  cross  the  front  pin  of  your  head.     Employ  your  hands  in 
housewifery  ;  and  keep  your  feet  within  your  own  doors. 

Let  your  garments  be  made  with  the  silk  of  probity,  the  fine  linen  of  sanctity, 
and  the  purple  of  chastity. 

Jlinfs  Upon  Hepairing  Overcoats. 

Overcoats  are  more  troublesome  to  repair  than  any  other  garment  worn  by 
gentlemen.  They  are  usually  obtained  at  ready-made  clothing  warehouses,  and 
are  not  always  made  of  durable  materials,  and  sometimes  the  linings  will  last 
long(!r  than  the  outsidos,  and  perhaps  the  garment  will  seem  to  be  too  good  to 
throw  away,  although  it  is  not  an  easy  job  to  patch  it  without  any  pieces  like 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  135 

the  original  stuff  at  hand  ;  and  yet  the  farmer  does  not  like  to  give  it  up,  and 
use  his  go-to-meeting  coat,  to  do  the  chores,  carry  in  wood,  and  go  to  the  mill. 

So  we  will  tell  his  wife  how  to  make  it  over  quite  as  good  as  new.  Kip  off 
the  buttons,  and  sew  up  the  large  rents  in  the  backs  or  fronts  ;  and  rip  out  the 
sleeves ;  and  then  spread  the  garment  upon  the  floor,  and  measure  it  with  a 
yard  measure,  to  find  out  how  much  material  is  needed  to  cover  it.  Then  buy 
some  kind  of  light  soft  cloth,  like  tweed  or  water-proof,  or  Kentucky  Jean, 
which  is  a  mixture  of  cotton  and  wool.  Fin  the  new  cloth  very  smoothly  over 
the  back— there  need  not  be  any  seam  in  the  middle,  but  allow  deep  seams  for 
the  sides  and  shoulders.  Let  it  remain  pinned  on  very  closely,  and  proceed  in 
the  same  way  to  cut  the  fronts ;  baste  up  the  seams  under  the  arms  to  fit  ex- 
actly. If  you  pin  the  cloth  on  the  wrong  side  out,  you  will  manage  better.  Cut 
the  sleeves  in  the  same  way.  Sew  up  the  seams,  press  them  smoothly  ;  set  in 
the  sleeves.  Then  cut  the  facings  for  the  fronts,  and  sew  them  on,  from  the 
point  where  the  collar  is  to  be  put  on,  down  the  front  to  the  bottom  of  the 
coat.  Finish  the  sleeves  at  the  wrist  with  bindings  or  facings.  Hem  the  cover 
to  the  coat  around  the  bottom.  Put  the  cover  thus  made  on  to  the  coat,  basting 
it  closely  on  to  the  seams  under  the  arms,  and  on  the  shoulders.  Cut  the  upper 
side  of  the  collar  an  inch  wider  than  the  under  side,  and  when  made  put  it  on 
to  the  coat  collar.  The  old  pockets  will  answer  if  they  are  whole.  Cut  a  place 
in  the  new  cloth  for  them,  and  finish  with  binding  or  pocket-lid  as  preferred. 
Button-holes  can  be  worked  over  the  old  ones.  Then  sew  on  the  buttons,  and 
the  result  will  be  a  whole  and  respectable  looking  coat.  If  the  coat  is  faded 
but  not  worn  out,  rip  it  apart  and  turn  it. 

How  to  make  Cloth  Water-xtroof. 

Take  a  good  article  of  Scotch  tweed,  and  dip  it  into  a  bucket  of  soft  water 
that  holds  about  two  gallons,  in  which  has  been  dissolved  half  a  pound  of  sugar 
of  lead,  and  the  same  quantity  of  powdered  alum.  To  prepare  the  solution, 
dissolve  the  ingredients  in  some  warm  water,  then  pour  it  into  clear  water,  and 
stir  it  up  well.  Let  it  stand  and  settle  until  it  is  perfectly  clear,  and  then  dip 
in  the  cloth,  and  let  it  soak  for  twenty-four  hours,  and  hang  it  up  without  ring- 
ing it  at  all.  Garments  thus  treated  will  entirely  exclude  all  moisture,  and  are 
better  in  evei'y  way  than  the  so-called  water-proof  cloths. 

Tlie  Clothing  We  Wear. 

Dr.  Nichols,  of  the  Journal  of  Chemistry,  says  :  The  color  of  our  clothing  is 
by  no  means  a  matter  of  indifference  to  our  comfort.  "White  and  light-colored 
cloths  reflect  the  heat,  while  black  and  dark-colored  ones  absorb  it ;  therefore 
white  should  be  the  fashionable  color  in  Summer,  for  it  reflects  heat  well  and 
pi'events  the  sun's  raj's  from  passing  through  and  heating  the  body. 

But  if  white  is  the  best  color  for  Summer,  it  does  not  follow  that  black  is  the 


136  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

best  for  Winter.  It  must  be  remembered  that  black  radiates  heat  with  great 
rapidity.  Give  a  coat  of  white  paint  to  a  black  steam  radiator  which  is  capa- 
ble of  rendering  a  room  comfortably  warm  at  all  times,  and  tlie  temperature 
will  fall  at  once,  although  the  heat-producing  agency  remains  the  same  as 
before.  A  black  garment  robs  the  body  of  a  larger  amount  of  heat  than  white, 
and  consequently  the  latter  color  is  the  best  for  Winter  garments.  So  we  see 
that  it  should  be  worn  both  Summer  and  Winter. 

Although  this  statement  may  seem  like  blowing  hot  and  cold,  it  is  neverthe- 
less true.  Let  those  who  are  troubled  with  cold  feet,  and  who  wear  dark- 
colored  stockings,  change  to  white,  and  see  if  the  difficulty  is  not  partly  or 
wholly  removed. 

How  to  Wash  Fine  Under-clothing. 

A  leading  firm  of  importers  of  under-clothing,  give  the  following  directions 
for  washing  merino,  silk,  and  lamb's  wool  under-clothing.  Scrape  one  pound  of 
bar  soap  into  sufficient  water  to  melt  it.  Let  it  come  to  a  boil,  and  add  three 
table-spoonfuls  of  aqua  ammonia  to  it,  and  two  of  pow^dered  borax.  While  it 
cools,  beat  it  thorouglily,  and  it  will  look  like  a  jelly.  When  needed  for  use, 
take  a  tea-cupful  of  it  to  four  gallons  of  warm  water,  not  too  hot,  and  rinse  the 
under-clothing  in  it,  drawing  them  repeatedly  through  the  hand,  but  do  not 
scrub  them  much,  for  that  pulls  the  material,  and  also  wears  it  out.  Rinse 
them  in  clean,  lukewarm  water,  ring  and  stretch  them  to  their  proper  shape, 
and  dry  in  the  open  air  if  possible. 

The  material  used  in  manufacturing  silk  underwear  being  an  animal  prod- 
uct, it  is  absolutely  needful  that  nothing  but  the  best  quality  of  soap  should  be 
used,  and  if  too  hot  water  is  turned  upon  it,  it  will  yellow  and  shrink  it;  while 
all  kinds  of  washing  compounds,  other  than  the  above,  will  destroy  the  nature 
of  the  material. 

To  Memove  3IoJ<l, 

There  are  two  excellent  recipes  for  removing  spots  of  mold  from  fabrics — one 
is  by  just  rubbing  them  over  with  butter,  and  then  applying  potash  moistened 
in  a  little  water,  and  rubbing  the  spot  until  all  traces  of  it  disappear,  and  wash- 
ing it  in  plenty  of  water  to  take  out  the  potash. 

By  the  other  method  the  mark  should  first  be  wetted  with  yellow  sulphide  of 
ammonia,  by  which  it  will  be  immediately  blackened.  After  letting  it  pene- 
trate the  material  for  a  minute  or  two,  wash  it  off  and  remove  the  black  stain 
with  cold,  weak  chlorohydric  acid;  wash  oif  well  with  warmish  water. 

Scotch  Method  of  Washing  Woolen  Shawls. 

Scrape  one  pound  of  bar  soap  into  sufficient  water  to  melt  it,  and  let  it  boiL 
As  it  cools,  beat  it  with  a  spoon,  and  add  three  table-spoonfuls  of  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine, and  one  of  spirits  of  hartshorn.     Wash  the  articles  thoroughly  in  this, 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  137 

allowing  three  table-spoonfuls  of  the  jelly  to  each  gallon  of  lukewarm  water. 
Rinse  in  nearly  cold  water  until  all  the  soap  is  out.  Then  rinse  in  salt  and 
water.     Fold  between  two  slieets,  and  iron  over  the  sheets. 

Knitted  and  crocheted  shawls,  cleaned  in  this  manner,  will  look  like  new. 
The  salt  need  not  be  used  unless  there  are  delicate  colors  that  may  spread  in 
drying. 

To  liesfore  Blade  Silk  Dresses. 

Rip  the  dress  apart  and  shake  or  brush  out  all  the  dust.  If  any  grease  spots 
are  visible,  put  a  bit  of  brown  paper  over  them,  and  place  a  moderately  heated 
iron  upon  it,  until  the  grease  is  absorbed  in  the  paper. 

Then  spread  the  silk  breadths  upon  a  clean  table,  and  sponge  them  with  a 
mixture  of  stale  beer  or  ale,  water  and  ammonia,  in  the  proportion  of  a  tea-cup- 
ful of  ale  or  beer  to  a  pint  of  cold  water,  and  a  bit  of  carbonate  of  ammonia  as 
large  as  a  walnut.  ^loisten  the  sponge  but  slightly,  and  rub  it  over  the  silk 
evenly,  so  as  not  to  streak  it,  and  as  each  breadth  is  cleaned,  roll  it  around  a  news- 
paper into  a  round  roll.  Lay  it  aside  to  dry,  covering  each  roll  with  a  cloth  to 
keep  off  the  dust.  When  nearly  dry  unroll  the  silk,  and  shake  it  well  so  there 
will  be  no  wrinkles  in  it,  and  i"oll  it  up  again  and  let  it  lie  until  dried. 

Do  not  put  an  iron  upon  it,  as  it  takes  away  the  fresh  appearance  of  the  silk. 

To  Heniove  Iron  Must. 

Cover  the  spots  with  table  salt,  and  squeeze  enough  lemon  juice  over  it  to  dis- 
solve the  salt,  spread  the  cloth  in  the  sun,  and  the  spots  will  soon  vanish.  Then 
wash  it  out  in  hot  water. 

Starch  finely  powdered,  can  be  substituted  for  the  salt,  and  the  same  process 
repeated.     If  the  spots  are  not  wholly  gone  apply  another  portion. 

If  a  lemon  is  not  obtainable,  rub  each  side  of  the  cloth  with  yellow  soap  until 
it  makes  a  paste ;  then  spread  a  mixture  of  starch  and  water  over  the  soaji,  and 
expose  to  the  sun  and  air.  If  the  stains  do  not  disappear  in  a  few  hours,  re- 
peat. 

Tlie  Mag  Bag. 

"  Are  you  housekeeper  enough  to  keep  a  rag-bag?"  asked  a  friend  of  a  young 
bride. 

"  If  I  were  not,  I  certainly  should  not  call  myself  a  housekeeper,"  she  replied. 

Not  keep  a  rag-bag  !  Why  the  very  idea  implies  that  one  is  ignorant  of  the 
first  principles  of  economy.  What  would  become  of  all  the  little  scraps  and  old 
rags  if  we  had  not  such  a  receptacle  for  them.  We  know  of  ladies  who  keep 
themselves  well  supplied  with  pans,  dippers  and  skimmers  from  the  profits  of 
the  rag-bag ;  and  wise  housekeepers  often  have  two  bags,  one  for  white  rags 
and  another  for  colored  ones,  so  as  to  do  away  with  the  trouble  of  separating 
them  when  the  rag-man  calls,  because  white  rags  will  always  command  a  much 
higher  price  than  colored  or  mixed  ones.     If  a  rag-bag  is  made  of  strong  twilled 


138  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

cotton  or  thick  bed-ticking,  it  will  last  a  generation.  The  pretty  fancy  scrap- 
bags  for  the  sewing  room  are  also  necessary  objects,  as  they  keep  many  a 
thread  from  the  carpet  and  many  a  tiny  scrap  from  the  fire-place. 


How  to  Pour  Out  Tea, 

At  breakfast  a  grown-up  daughter  should  relieve  her  mother  from  the  trouble 
of  pouring  out  tea  and  coffee,  and,  by  giving  her  mind  to  the  business,  and  learn- 
ing all  her  mother's  ways,  she  will  make  it  agreeable  for  her  to  resign  the  office. 

Some  young  ladies  are  very  earnest  to  be  of  use,  and  to  take  some  of  their 
mother's  duties  upon  themselves,  where  the  family  is  a  large  one,  and  the  duties 
onerous ;  but  by  not  entering  into  the  true  spirit  of  the  business,  and  learning 
to  do  it  in  the  best  way,  their  services  have  not  been  acceptable ;  but,  far  from 
being  conscious  that  the  fault  was  in  themselves,  they  have  blamed  their  moth- 
ers for  not  being  allowed  to  relieve  them  of  some  of  their  burdens. 

There  is  more  to  be  learned  about  pouring  out  tea  and  coffee,  than  some 
young  ladies  are  willing  to  believe.  If  these  beverages  are  made  at  the  table, 
which  is  by  far  the  best  method  to  pursue,  they  require  experience,  judgment 
and  exactness ;  if  they  are  brought  on  the  table  already  prepared,  it  will  still 
require  judgment  so  to  apportion  them,  that  they  shall  prove  sufficient  in  quan- 
tity for  the  family  party,  and  that  the  elder  members  of  the  family  shall  have 
the  strongest  cups. 

Persons  will  often  pour  out  tea  without  being  aware  that  the  first  cup  is  the 
weakest,  and  that  the  tea  grows  stronger  as  you  approach  the  bottom  of  the  tea- 
pot, and  will,  therefore,  bestow  the  poorest  cup  ujion  the  visitor  or  the  head  of 
the  fanuly,  and  give  the  strongest  to  themselves. 

Where  several  cups  of  equal  strength  are  desired,  it  is  better  to  pour  a  little 
tea  into  each,  and  then  go  back,  inverting  the  order  as  you  fill  them  up,  and  the 
strength  will  be  apportioned  properly.  This  is  so  well  understood  in  England, 
that  an  experienced  pourer  of  tea  waits  till  all  the  cups  of  the  company  are 
returned  to  her,  before  she  fills  any  a  second  time,  that  all  may  share  alike. 

You  should  learn  every  one's  taste  in  the  matter  of  sugar  and  cream,  too,  in 
order  to  suit  them  in  that  respect ;  but,  in  many  families,  the  sugar  and  tea  are 
passed  separately,  and  each  person  helps  himself.  Yet  tea  is  better  flavored  when 
it  is  poured  upon  the  cream. 

Delicacy  and  neatness  can  be  shown  in  the  manner  of  handling  and  rinsing 
cups,  and  in  using  the  cream  jug,  without  letting  the  cream  run  down  from  the 
lip.  There  are  a  thousand  little  niceties  which  will  occur  to  you,  if  you  give 
due  attention  to  the  business,  and  resolve  to  do  it  with  the  thrift  of  a  good 
housekeeper,  and  the  ease  and  dignity  of  a  refined  lady.  When  you  have  once 
acquired  good  habits  in  this  department,  it  will  require  less  attention,  and  you 
will  always  do  it  in  the  best  way,  w-itiiout  thinking  much  about  it. 

A  very  happy  match  once  grew  out  of  the  admiration  felt  by  a  gentleman  on 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  139 

seeing  a  j-oung  lady  preside  well  at  the  tea-table.  Her  graceful  and  dextrous 
movements  tliere,  first  fixed  his  attention  upon  her,  and  led  to  a  nearer  acquaint- 
ance. 

How  to  Wash  Straw  Matting. 

Take  a  pail  half-full  of  hot  water,  a  plate  with  some  di-y,  unsifted  Indian  meal 
and  a  perfectly  clean  long-handled  mop.  The  matting  should  first  be  swept 
very  clean,  so  that  no  dust  remains  upon  it ;  then  scatter  the  dry  meal  evenly, 
all  over  the  floor.  Dip  the  mop  into  the  pail  of  water,  wring  it  out  so  dry  that 
it  will  not  drip  at  all,  and  rub  one  breadth  at  a  time,  always  lengthwise  of  the 
straw,  and  use  clean  water  for  each  breadth.  Rub  it  hard,  and  when  the  mat- 
tings dry,  the  meal  can  easily  be  brushed  off  from  it.  It  should  always  be  done 
upon  a  warm,  sunny  day,  when  the  windows  can  be  left  open,  and  the  matting 
dried  quickly. 

To  Insert  Screws  into  Plaster ed  Walls. 

It  is  often  found  impossible  to  fasten  brackets,  strips  of  wood,  etc.,  to  plas- 
tered walls  by  means  of  screws,  for  they  cannot  be  made  to  hold  firmly,  as  the 
plaster  breaks  away  with  every  turn  of  the  screw.  The  best  way  to  do  it  is  to 
enlarge  the  hole  to  about  twice  the  diameter  of  the  screw,  and  fill  it  up  with 
plaster  of  Paris  moistened  just  enough  to  be  pliable  to  the  fingers,  and  bed  the 
screw  in  the  soft  plaster.  When  it  has  hardened,  the  screw  will  be  held  very 
strongly,  and  will  bear  considerable  weight  upon  it. 

To  Hepair  Leahy  Hoofs. 

Melt  together  in  an  iron  pot  two  parts  by  weight  of  common  pitch,  and  one 
part  of  gutta-percha.  This  will  form  a  homogenous  fluid  that  is  much  more 
manageable  than  gutta-percha  alone.  To  rejiair  leaks  in  roofs,  gutters  or  other 
surfaces,  carefully  clean  out  of  the  cracks  all  dirt  and  rubbish;  and  slightly 
warjn  the  edges  with  a  plumber's  soldering  iron,  then  pour  the  cement  in  a  fluid 
state  upon  the  cracks  while  hot,  finishing  up  by  going  over  the  cement  with  a 
moderately  hot  ii-on,  so  as  to  make  a  good  connection  and  a  smooth  joint. 
This  recipe  will  repair  zinc,  lead  or  iron  fissures,  and  is  an  excellent  cement  for 
aquariums. 

The  Value  of  Friends. 

Our  enjoyment  in  this  life  is  very  much  influenced  by  our  friendships,  and  we 
do  not  hesitate  to  assert  that  no  one  is  happy  who  does  not  possess  friends.  You 
may  become  as  rich  as  Commodore  Yanderbilt,  who  was  the  Croesus  of  Xew  York, 
may  carry  on  extensive  operations,  and  order  regiments  of  employes  to  do  your 
bidding,  yet  unless  you  possess  warm-hearted,  true  friends,  you  are  of  all  men 
most  miserable.  The  Almighty  designed  that  friendships  should  be  a  great 
source  of  pleasure  to  all,  and  if  you  do  not  fully  appreciate  that  pleasure  you  do 
not  fulfill  the  destiny  that  God  intended  for  you. 


I40  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

"There  is  nothing,"  wrote -Montaigne,  "to  which  natui'e  seems  so  much  to 
have  inclined  us,  as  to  society." 

Neander  declared  "  him  to  be  happy  that  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  with 
but  the  shadow  of  a  friend." 

Aristotle  said,  "  Good  legislators  have  more  respect  to  friendship  than  to 
justice." 

"  Without  friends,"  exclaimed  Bacon,  "  the  world  is  but  a  wilderness."  No 
recipe  openeth  the  heart  but  a  true  friend,  to  whom  you  may  impart  griefs,  joys, 
fears,  hopes,  suspicions,  counsels,  and  whatever  comes  the  nearest  to  the  heart- 
No  man  imparts  his  joys  to  his  friends  without  increasing  his  enjoyment,  and 
no  man  sharas  his  griefs  with  his  friend,  without  feeling  their  burden  lessened. 

Friendships  make  a  fair  day  in  the  affections,  even  out  of  storms  and  tempest; 
and  they  make  daylight  in  the  understanding,  out  of  darkness  and  confusion  of 
thought. 

Bacon  also  observes  :  "  The  best  way  to  represent  to  life  the  manifold  uses 
of  friendship,  is  to  ca^t  and  see  how  many  things  there  are  which  a  man  can- 
not do  for  himself ;  and  then  it  will  appear  that  it  was  a  sparring  speech  of  the 
ancients  to  say,  that  a,  friend  is  another  himself ;  or  that  a  friend  is  far  more  than 
himself." 

And  just  as  far  as  you  withdraw  yourselves  from  the  sympathy  and  compan- 
ionship of  human  beings,  just  so  far  are  you  liable  to  become  selfish,  morose, 
and  disagreeable.  No  one  can  expect  to  obtain  happiness  and  contentment  by 
shutting  up  the  heart  against  outsiders,  and  becoming  wholly  absorbed  in  one's 
own  family,  or  in  business  or  professional  pursuits. 

And  when  sickness,  adversity  and  trials  come,  then  you  will  learn  by  experi- 
ence, that  your  friends  can  do  kindnesses  for  you  that  no  money  can  obtain,  for 
they  can  speak  words  of  solace  to  your  ears,  and  give  your  fainting  soul  strength 
to  endure  unto  the  end. 

Therefore  it  should  be  your  aim  to  make  for  yourselves  a  band  of  true  and 
tried  friends,  not  mere  acquaintances,  who  will  stand  aside  when  your  skies  grow 
black,  but  fast,  staunch  friends,  who  will  never  leave  nor  forsake  you  while  life 
lasts. 

In  neighborhoods,  a  feeling  of  good  fellowship  should  be  cultivated  with 
those  whose  companionships  will  be  agreeable  and  beneficial,  and  every  oppor- 
tunity should  be  improved  to  establish  an  intimate  friendship  with  those  who 
wiU  be  as  firm  as  the  rocks,  in  your  day  of  trouble. 

How  to  Save  Coal  in  Open  Grates, 

The  most  practical  suggestion  yet  made  towards  economizing  the  use  of  coals 
seems  to  be  in  the  use  of  solid  bottoms  in  ordinary  fire-grates.  It  has  been  as- 
serted, and  indeed  proved,  that  in  any  fire  grate,  not  exceedingly  small,  a  plate 
of  iron  placed  upon  the  bars  will  nearly  halve  the  consumption  of  coal,  and  also 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  141 

reduce  the  smoke,  and  keep  up  a  cheerful,  free-burning  fire.  Quite  sufScient 
air  will  enter  through  the  front  bars,  and  all  poking  should  be  avoided,  and  the 
fire  will  continue  until  all  the  coal  is  consumed,  which  will  be  done  without 
leaving  much  ash  or  dust.  Any  housekeeper  can  try  the  experiment.  A  sheet 
of  iron  to  fit  easily  into  the  grate  will  cost  but  a  quarter  of  a  dollar,  and  the 
coal  bin  will  not  need  to  be  replenished  so  frequently. 

Tlie  Best  Thne  for  Painting  Houses, 

The  best  time  for  painting  the  exterior  of  houses  is  late  in  the  Autumn  or  dur- 
ing the  Winter,  when  it  is  sunny  and  warm.  Paint  applied  at  that  season,  it  is 
said,  will  last  twice  as  long  as  when  it  is  done  in  early  Summer  or  hot  weather, 
because  in  the  former  case  it  dries  slowly  and  becomes  hard,  like  a  glazed  sur- 
face, and  is  not  easily  aifected  by  the  weather,  or  worn  off  by  the  beating  of 
storms. 

But  in  the  Summer,  the  oil  which  is  mixed  with  the  lead,  strikes  into  the  wood 
at  once,  and  leaves  the  lead  on  the  sm-face,  so  that  it  will  crumble  and  flake  off 
very  quickly. 

This  last  difiiculty,  however,  can  be  prevented,  although  at  an  increased  ex- 
pense, by  brushing  over  the  surface  with  raw  oil.  But  it  is  always  best  to  paint 
when  the  ground  is  frozen,  and  uo  dust  flies,  and  insects  are  not  preserved  in 
the  mixture. 

Soiv  to  Fix  the  Clock, 

When  the  clock  stops  do  not  take  it  to  the  repair  shop,  until  you  have  tried 
your  hand  at  fixing  it  by  the  following  directions  : 

Take  off  the  pointers  and  the  face  ;  unhook  the  pendulum  and  its  wire.  Re- 
move the  ratchet  from  the  *'  tick  "  wheel,  and  the  clock  will  run  down  with  great 
velocity.  Let  it  go  ;  the  increasing  speed  will  wear  away  the  gum  and  dust  from 
the  pinions,  and  the  clock  will  clean  itself. 

If  you  have  any  machine  oil,  put  the  least  bit  on  the  axles.  Then  replace 
all  the  parts  of  the  machine  exactly,  and  nine  times  out  of  ten  it  will  run 
just  as  well  as  if  it  had  been  taken  to  the  clock-makers,  for  this  is  the  way  most 
clocks  are  repaired.  If  instead  of  a  pendulum  the  clock  has  a  watch  escape- 
ment, it  can  be  taken  out  in  a  moment  without  taking  the  works  apart,  and  the 
result  is  the  same.  It  takes  about  twenty  minutes  to  clean  a  clock,  and  you  can 
save  a  dollar  by  doing  it. 

Some  Facts  Worth  Knoiving  for  Housekeepers, 

"  Every  wise  woman  huildeth  her  house"  said  Solomon ;  but  we  believe  that  there 
are  many  women,  at  the  present  day,  who  know  very  little  concerning  the  prac- 
tical details  of  house-building,  and,  if  they  would  pay  a  little  more  attention  to 
them,  or,  at  least,  to  the  interior  arrangement,  there  would  be  many  more  com- 
fortable and  convenient  houses.    We  have  never  heard  of  a  woman  becoming  an 


142  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

architect,  or  an  upliolsterer,  or  a  painter ;  yet  she  might  excel  in  both  of  these 
professions,  and  would  comprehend  more  fully  than  a  man  often  does,  the  neces- 
sity of  doing  the  work  thoroughly,  so  that  neither  doors  nor  furniture  would 
warp,  nor  paint  blister ;  and  the  arrangements  for  the  closets  and  the  kitchen 
would  be  more  complete,  while  she  would  also  understand  what  colors  are  best 
adapted  for  nursery  and  dining-room  use. 

Women  ought  to  understand  these  things,  and  study  into  them,  as  they  do  con- 
cerning the  most  desirable  and  artistic  hues  for  draperies  and  paper-hangings  ; 
for  it  is  much  more  desirable  that  the  house  should  be  conveniently  arranged, 
and  the  paint  of  durable  colors,  and  well  prepared,  than  that  the  parlor  should 
be  papered  in  the  latest  fashion,  and  the  chambers  artistically  furnished,  and 
the  draperies  of  the  windows  be  made  of  the  rarest  laces  or  chintzes. 

AVhen  the  first  rough  coat  of  plaster  is  laid  upon  the  walls,  and  the  doors  and 
window-casings  are  placed  then  the  housekeeper  should  feel  that  she  can  give 
special  directions  concerning  the  finishing. 

If  she  desires  to  finish  the  house  in  the  most  economical  manner,  she  can  have 
ihe  following  recipe  for  sizing  applied  to  the  walls :  Melt  two  pounds  of  com- 
mon glue,  in  a  little  boiling  water,  and  add  to  it,  when  thoroughly  dissolved, 
eiglit  gallons  of  cold  water.     Then  stir  into  it  twelve  pounds  of  whiting. 

This  will  make  a  smooth  finish,  which  can  be  washed  in  cold  milk  and  water, 
every  Spring  and  Fall.  It  can  be  applied  with  a  common  whitewash  brush,  and 
will  form  a  good  basis  for  papering.  It  can  also  be  tinted  with  a  little  yellow 
ochre,  to  form  a  lemon-colored  wash,  or  Spanish  brown,  for  an  ash es-of -roses 
tint,  and  a  little  cobalt  will  give  to  it  a  light  gray  hue. 

But,  if  there  is  any  dampness  upon  the  walls,  neither  whiting,  nor  glue,  nor 
paper-hangings  will  do,  but  an  oil  paint  must  be  applied ;  and  it  can  be  bought 
in  cans,  ready-mixed  for  use.  If  the  housewife  desires  to  try  her  hand  at  paint- 
ing, she  must  procure  a  No.  5  brush,  and,  if  she  can  get  one  that  is  partly  worn, 
it  will  be  more  serviceable.  She  will  also  need  a  stei>ladder,  and  she  can  tie  a 
small  paint-pot  around  her  waist.  When  putting  aside  the  paint,  pour  cold 
water  over  it  to  keep  the  dust  out,  and  put  the  brushes  into  the  water.  In  lay- 
ing on  paint,  dip  the  brush  only  an  inch  into  the  paint,  and  strike  it  once  or 
twice  against  the  side  of  the  pot,  to  shake  off  all  drops.  Then  make  straight 
strokes  of  the  brush,  with  the  grain,  not  across  it,  drawing  downward  or  verti- 
cal, and  from  left  to  right  on  horizontal  surfaces ;  and  cany  the  brush  off,  not 
lifting  it,  at  the  end  of  each  stroke. 

INIake  the  first  coat  the  lightest  and  the  thinnest  one,  stopping  all  cracks  and 
holes  with  putty,  after  the  paint  is  dry.  Paint  all  crevices,  bevels  and  head- 
ings before  you  do  the  flat  surfaces  next  them,  with  a  full  brush.  Work  tlie 
paint  well  into  the  wood  by  passing  the  brush  vigoi-ously  back  and  forth  when 
each  coat  is  on.  • 

For  sashes  and  fine  work  use  a  No.  4  brush,  and  carry  it  only  one  way,  not 
back  and  forth.     Protect  glass  in  sashes,  and  walls  at  the  side  of  mouldings,  by 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  143 

tacking  a  strip  of  paste-board,  several  inches  wide,  against  tlie  surface  next  the 
work  to  catch  dashes  of  paint. 

If  spots  of  mildew  or  blisters  appear  on  ■wall  paper  in  a  room  where  steam 
does  not  penetrate,  there  is  no  use  in  saving  the  paper,  but  strip  it  off,  by  wet- 
ting it  with  sal-soda  dissolved  in  water,  and  then  it  will  peal  off  easily. 

Make  a  paint  by  mixing  with  every  gallon  of  boiled  linseed  oil,  one  quarter 
of  a  pound  of  glue,  which  has  been  dissolved  in  just  enough  boiling  water  to 
make  it  liquid,  and  add  any  of  the  colors  mentioned  above  for  white-wash  to 
give  it  tint. 

Another  more  effectual  coating  is  made  of  five  pounds  of  pure  India  rubber 
melted  in  a  gallon  of  boiled  linseed  oil.  This  mixture  can  be  heated  in  a  tin 
pail  i:)laced  in  an  iron  kettle  of  boiling  water,  so  that  it  will  not  take  fire. 

Paint  the  wall  with  this,  and  it  can  never  be  penetrated  by  dampness,  while 
one  gallon  of  the  preparation  will  coat  fifty  yards  of  surface. 

One  gallon  of  the  oil  and  glue  requires  twenty  pounds  of  dry  paint  ground  in 
it,  to  put  two  coats  upon  forty  square  yards  of  surface.  Use  nothing  but  the 
boiled  linseed  oil  for  the  work,  as  the  raw  takes  a  long  time  to  become  dry. 

A  good  drying  oil  can  be  made  by  boiling  one  ounce  of  sugar  of  lead  and  one 
ounce  of  sulphate  of  zinc  with  two  ounces  each  of  litharge,  red-lead  and  umber, 
in  a  gallon  of  linseed  oil  until  it  will  scorch  a  feather. 

White-lead  gives  the  most  body  to  paint,  and  will  last  the  longest,  but  it  will 
turn  yellow,  and  it  is  often  mixed  with  inferior  pigment.  Zinc  white  will  keep 
its  whiteness  the  longest.  Three  coats  will  be  much  more  lasting  than  two  on 
inside  work.  The  first  is  called  the  priming,  and  is  the  only  coat  in  \Yhich  oil 
should  be  used,  for  in  the  upper  coats  it  is  apt  to  turn  yellow  by  exposure  to  the 
air.  The  cheapest  priming  is  given  by  a  coat  of  oil  on  which  whiting  is  rubbed, 
filling  all  the  pores  of  the  wood  with  a  thin  putty,  which  not  only  jireserves  it 
well  but  gives  a  fine  surface  for  the  paint. 

A  good  common  finish  can  be  made  by  mixing  a  second  coat  of  zinc  white 
with  enough  oil  to  moisten  it,  arnd  thinning  it  to  the  consistency  of  paint  with 
naphtha;  then  a  third  coat  of  zinc  in  naphtha,  with  one-third  Damar  varnish 
mixed  into  it.  This  mixture  will  give  a  pure  glossy  white,  which  is  the  pride 
of  neat  housewives,  and  all  fly  specks  and  soil  can  be  wiped  off  with  a  cloth 
dipped  into  warmish  water,  and  squeezed  nearly  dry. 

The  most  expensive  but  also  the  most  durable  white  finish  is  made  in  this 
way.  Put  on  one.  coat  of  shellac  varnish,  then  four  successive  coats  of  pure 
zinc  gi'ound  in  oil,  and  mixed  with  turpentine.  Each  coat  must  be  allowed 
to  become  thoroughly  dry  before  another  is  added,  and  the  whole  should  be 
rubbed  very  smooth  with  pumice  stone.  Then  apply  two  coats  of  French  zinc 
in  varnish,  and  you  will  have  a  hard,  shining  surface,  as  fine  as  enamel. 


144  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

Honor  Your  Occupation. 

It  is  a  good  sign  when  women  are  proud  of  their  work,  and  you  may  be  sure 
that  you  cannot  excel  in  it,  and  understand  your  trade  or  occupation,  if  you  are 
inclined  to  find  fault  with  it,  and  to  consider  yourself  an  object  of  pity,  because 
you  are  under  the  necessity  of  earning  a  livelihood.  And  if  you  fret  about  it 
you  will  not  only  destroy  all  your  own  comfort,  but  also  that  of  your  employers ; 
and  if  you  change  your  work  you  will  often  find  that  you  have  not  improved 
your  position.  But,  on  the  contrary,  if  you  will  put  your  heart  into  it,  and  try 
to  do  your  daily  tasks  thoroughly,  and  in  the  best  possible  manner,  you  will  not 
only  be  happier,  but  you  will  also  make  others  happier. 

There  is  no  station  in  life  that  has  not  its  own  peculiar  cares  and  vexations ; 
and  no  woman  can  escape  the  annoyances  of  life,  no  matter  what  may  be  your 
occupation,  whether  you  are  wife,  mother  and  housekeeper,  or  dress-maker, 
milliner  or  shop  girl,  you  must  endure  the  inevitable  burdens  of  life. 

Life  in  all  its  devious  windings  is  full  of  trials,  unwelcome  duties,  and  spirit- 
wearing  necessities;  and  it  is  the  very  wantonness  of  folly  for  a  woman  to  fret 
over  its  cares  and  anxieties,  for  they  must  be  endured ;  therefore  it  is  far 
wiser  to  shoulder  them  bravely,  and  not  to  brood  over  them,  and  thereby  give 
them  strength  to  weaken  both  mind  and  heart. 

A  woman  has  power  given  to  her  to  make  the  homeliest  toil  pleasant  and  beau- 
tiful, if  she  only  has  the  sense  to  work  with  the  right  spirit.  So  let  us  beg  of  you 
to  honor  your  occupations,  whatever  they  may  be,  and  to  identify  them  with 
pleasant  associations ;  for  Heaven  endowed  us  with  the  powers  of  imagination, 
not  only  to  make  us  poets,  but  to  give  us  the  ability  to  transform  ugliness  into 
beauty. 

Heart-varnish  will  beautify  innumerable  defects,  and  conceal  many  deform- 
ities of  life. 

Look  on  the  bright  side  always,  and  accept  your  lot  uncomplainingly,  and  set 
yourself  to  work  to  enrich  it  and  plant  it  with  blossoming  vines  ami  plants  of 
kindness  and  good-will  to  all.  There  is  something  in  the  most  disagreeable 
occupations  of  life  around  which  a  woman  can  twine  pleasant  fancies,  from 
whose  out-growth  an  honest  pride  can  be  developed. 

Praise  the  Children, 

There  is  an  old  superstition  that  praise  is  too  precious  an  article  to  be  be- 
stowed upon  the  children,  that  it  is  too  rich  a  diet  for  their  moral  and  mental 
digestion. 

Indeed,  some  parents  are  so  afraid  that  their  children  will  be  injured  by  it, 
or  that  th(;y  will  become  too  self-satisfied  and  proud,  that  they  never  suffer 
them  to  taste  a  sweet  morsel  of  praise,  but  in  the  end,  they  will  often  find  that 
such  a  course  is  exceedingly  disastrous  to  their  well-being  ;  for  it  may  engender 
a  melancholy  hopelessness  of  disposition,  a  self-distrust  that  is  pernicious  to 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  145 

success  in  life,  or  else  it  weans  the  children  from  their  homo,  and  teaches  them 
to  find  pleasure  in  more  congenial  companionship.  We  consider  that  praise  is 
quite  as  needful  for  the  healthful  growth  of  childhood,  as  sunshine  is  for  the 
development  of  flowers;  and  there  is  no  child  who  does  not  long  for  it,  and  re- 
quire it  to  bring  out  the  best  side  of  his  heart  and  mind.  It  is  the  most  desir- 
able and  the  legitimate  reward  of  well-doing,  no  matter  how  trifling  may  be  the 
affair.  If  your  child  picks  up  your  handkerchief,  thank  him  for  the  act,  and 
thus  inspire  him  with  a  desire  to  do  little  deeds  of  kindness.  Thomas  Hughes 
says  that  you  never  can  get  a  man's  best  out  of  him  without  praise. 

We  know  that  you  never  can  excite  a  child  to  his  best  behavior  if  you  deny 
him  the  sweet  breath  of  commendation  ;  and  we  fully  believe  that  many  a  sen- 
sitive child  dies  of  hunger  from  want  of  it ;  and  many  a  child,  starving  for  the 
praise  that  its  mother  refuses  to  bestow  upon  it,  runs  eagerly  after  those  whose 
flattery  is  so  dangerous  to  its  soul. 

Motives  of  common  justice  alone,  should  teach  mothers  to  praise  their  chil- 
dren for  good  behavior  on  all  occasions,  and  thus  instill  into  their  minds  a  sense 
of  goodness. 

Of  course  there  is  a  decided  difference  in  the  minds  of  children,  and  there  are 
those  who  cannot  endure  much  praise,  any  more  than  they  can  bear  a  diet  of 
sweets  in  too  large  quantities ;  and  wise  mothers  will  soon  learn  to  bestow 
praise  in  doses  graduated  according  to  the  appetites  of  the  children  ;  and  to 
sandwich  blame  and  praise  together  so  judiciously  that  they  well  affect  the 
taste  as  pleasantly  as  the  toothsome  sandwich  of  our  tables. 

To  Cave  Children  of  Biting  their  Finger-Nails. 

Both  girls  and  boys  are  apt  to  indulge  in  the  bad  habit  of  biting  their  finger- 
nails, as  determinedly  as  though  they  were  rodents,  and  must  gnaw  at  something 
continuously. 

It  is  a  singularly  morbid  craving  peculiar  to  some  temperaments  that  cannot 
remain  long  at  rest;  and  neither  appeals  to  their  pride  of  appearance,  nor  to 
their  sense  of  cleanliness  are  of  any  avail  with  nail-gnawers,  therefore  the  only 
hope  of  success  in  breaking  up  such  a  pernicious  course  that  not  only  destroys 
the  symmetry  of  the  fingers,  but  also  their  nice  perception  of  touch,  is  to  compel 
them  to  dip  the  tips  of  their  fingers  every  night  and  morning,  into  a  strong 
solution  of  aloes,  an  intensely  bitter  drug,  so  offensive  to  the  taste  that  even  in 
sleep  the  nails  will  be  withdrawn  quickly  if  placed  on  the  lips,  but  yet  not  un- 
healthy. A  decoction  of  tobacco  will  also  do  as  well,  but  sometimes  it  will  pro- 
duce nausea  as  well  as  shuddering  disgust.  Yet  a  little  of  that  is  better  than  to 
go  through  life  with  misshapen,  distorted  fingers,  produced  by  the  horrible  pro- 
pensity to  bite  them.  Be  firm  with  the  first  remedy,  however,  insisting  that  the 
fingers  shall  be  wetted  with  the  aloes,  and  it  shall  not  be  washed  off;  and  you 
will  rarely  fail  to  effect  a  cure. 
10 


146  HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES. 

The  Charm  of  Iteserve. 

Do  not  be  too  anxious  to  give  yourself  away,  to  wear  your  heart  upon  your 
sleeve.  It  is  not  only  unwise,  but  it  is  wrong  to  make  your  secret  soul  common 
property.  For  you  bring  the  delicate  things  of  the  heart  into  contempt  by  ex- 
posing them  to  those  who  cannot  understand  them. 

If  you  throw  pearls  before  swine,  they  will  turn  again  and  rend  you.  Nor, 
again,  should  you  claim  too  much  openness  as  a  duty  due  to  you,  from  your 
child,  your  friend,  your  wife  or  your  husband.  Much  of  the  charm  of  life  is 
ruined  by  exacting  demands  of  confidence.  Respect  the  natural  modesty  of 
the  soul ;  its  more  delicate  flowers  of  feeling  close  their  petals  when  they  are 
touched  too  rudely.  Wait  with  curious  love,  with  eager  interest,  for  the  time 
when,  all  being  harmonious,  the  revelation  will  come  of  its  own  accord,  unde- 
manded. 

The  expectation  has  its  charm,  for  as  long  as  life  has  something  to  learn,  life 
is  interesting;  as  long  as  a  friend  has  something  to  give,  friendship  is  delight- 
ful, and  those  who  wish  to  destroy  all  mystery  in  those  they  love,  to  have  every- 
thing revealed,  are  unconsciously  killing  their  own  happiness. 

It  is  much  to  be  with  those  who  have  many  things  to  say  to  us,  which  we  can- 
not bear  now.  It  is  much  to  live  with  those  who  sometimes  speak  to  us  in 
parables,  if  we  love  them. 

Love  needs  some  indefiniteness  in  order  to  keep  its  charm.  Respect,  which 
saves  love  from  the  familiarity  which  degrades  it,  is  kept  vivid  when  we  feel 
that  there  is  a  mystery  in  those  we  love  which  comes  of  depth  of  character. 

Remember,  therefore,  that  in  violating  your  own  reserve,  or  that  of  another, 
you  destroy  that  sensitiveness  of  character  which  makes  so  much  of  the  beauty 
of  character  ;  and  beauty  of  character  is  not  so  common  as  not  to  make  it  a 
cruel  thing  to  spoil  it. — Rev.  Stajjbrd  A.  Brooks. 

How  to  Kill  Animals  Without  Pain. 

There  are  doubtless  many  persons  who  possess  four-footed  friends  that  have 
become  so  old  that  they  cannot  enjoy  life,  and  are  also  an  annoyance  to  the 
household ;  and  they  would  gladly  put  an  end  to  their  sufferings,  but  cannot 
endure  the  thoughts  of  shooting  them,  yet  would  gladly  adopt  some  means  that 
would  be  merciful. 

To  put  horses  to  death  painlessly,  take  a  large  sponge — at  least  seven  or  eight 
inches  in  diameter,  and  saturate  it  tlioroughly  with  chloroform,  perhaps  five  or 
six  ounces  will  be  enough ;  put  the  sponge  into  a  paper  or  cloth  bag  that  can  be 
drawn  over  the  horse's  nose,  but  not  so  tightly  as  to  interfere  with  its  breath- 
ing, for  that  would  cause  death  by  suffocation,  and  not  a  painless  death.  But 
if  it  is  put  on  rightly,  in  a  few  moments  the  animal  becomes  unconscious,  and 
in  eight  or  ten  minutes  is  dead.  Or  if  you  prefer,  you  can  put  eight  ounces  of 
chloroform  into  a  glass  bottle,  and  insert  the  nose  of  it  into  the  horse's  mouth, 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES,  147 

and  turn  it  down  liis  throat,  and  in  a  few  moments  he  falls  asleep,  never  to 
wake. 

For  dogs  or  cats,  a  similar  process  can  be  used,  and  the  sponge  can  be  applied 
while  the  animal  sleeps,  and  a  handkerchief  or  bit  of  cloth  thrown  over  the 
head,  to  keep  the  fumes  close  to  the  nose.  Or  the  chloroform  can  be  turned 
into  a  little  milk,  and  the  animal  will  lap  it  up,  and  soon  become  unconscious. 

We  have  known  several  cases  where  pet  dogs,  which  had  become  superau- 
uated,  were  thus  put  to  sleep  forever. 

The  Value  of  Good  Jtoads  in  Coniniuiiifies, 

It  is  an  old  and  true,  though  trite  saying  that,  "What's  everybody's  business,  is 
nobody's."  And  it  holds  good  in  respect  to  country  roads  in  almost  every  locality 
where  the  faulty  system  in  vogue  at  present  exists.  Show  us  a  locality  where 
the  roads  are  well  made  and  well  kept,  and  we  will  show  you  a  thriving  and  in- 
telligent community. 

That  good  roads  add  very  much  to  the  value  of  the  real  estate  around  them, 
is  not  only  a  well-known  fact  in  the  experience  of  any  one  who  has  ever  been 
on  the  search  for  a  farm  or  dwelling  place ;  but  they  have  been  considered  as 
the  chief  test  of  the  state  of  civilization  in  which  people  and  nations  have  ex- 
isted. We  estimate  the  intelligence  of  the  Ancient  Romans  highly,  from  the 
fact  that  they  made  roads,  upwards  of  two  thousands  years  ago,  which  serve 
the  purpose  of  the  European  nations  which  use  them  to-day.  These  roads  were 
also  a  great  agency  in  bringing  to  a  state  of  civilization  our  ancient  ancestors, 
who  at  that  time  dressed  principally  in  blue  paint  in  the  Summer,  and  shivered 
in  Winter  with  the  shelter  of  a  sheepskin  around  their  loins. 

It  is  a  matter  of  surprise,  that  while  nationally,  we,  too,  are  improving  our 
public  domain,  and  bringing  under  civilizing  influences  our  wild  races,  by 
assisting  in  the  building  of  such  a  system  of  railroads  as  has  never  before  been 
dreamed  of,  we  allow  our  common  country  roads  to  be  almost  unfit  for  travel, 
by  neglect  or  badly  applied  efforts. 

If  we  were  to  apply  the  test  of  roads  (to  say  nothing  of  school-houses)  to 
many  districts  that  we  know,  we  should  infer  that  they  were  decidedly  behind  in 
the  "  march  of  improvement,"  and  had  a  pretty  long  road  to  travel,  before  they 
got  abreast  of  the  present  order  of  things. 

How  to  3Iake  a  Model  Village, 

In  these  days, 

"  When  art  and  labor  meet  in  truce, 
And  beauty  's  made  the  bride  of  use," 

it  behooves  those  of  us  who  live  in  villages  to  exert  ourselves  to  make  them 
models  of  neatness  and  elegance ;  and  to  plant  trees  by  the  road-sides,  and 
flowering  plants  and  vines  about  our  houses  ;  and  strive  to  make  our  surround- 


148  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

ings  as  attractive  as  possible,  not  only  to  the  inmates  of  the  house,  but  also  to 
the  passer-by. 

Model  villages  ought  to  form  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception;  and  in  the 
green-leaved  Summer-time  there  are  thousands  of  them  scattered  through  the 
United  States,  under  the  rocky  brows  of  its  high  hills,  or  beside  the  peaceful  run- 
ning streams,  that  turn  the  mill  below  the  dam,  whose  loveliness  attracts  the 
admiration  of  all  who  behold  it. 

Every  house  seems  shaded  by  green  trees,  and  looks  like  the  home  of  peace  ; 
while  trailing  plants  adorn  its  piazzas,  and  hang  about  its  windows,  and  bril- 
liant flowers,  of  every  hue,  lift  up  their  fragrant  chalices  to  the  sunlight  in  tiie 
garden.  But  wait  until  Winter  comes,  and  then  behold  the  metamorphose  !  In 
many  cases  the  roads  are  deeply  cut  up  by  heavy  teams,  and  are  ankle  deep  in 
mud;  while  the  houses  are  no  longer  concealed  by  the  graceful  draperies  of  green, 
and  show  themselves  in  their  true  colors,  with  worn-off  paint,  and  dilapidated 
fences  ;  and  perhaps  the  broken  windows  of  the  homes  of  the  poorer  classes,  are 
ornamented  with  rimless  hats,  or  stuffed  with  rags  to  keep  out  the  chill  blast. 

A  Village  Improvement  Society  would  soon  change  all  this  ;  and  its  in- 
fluence would  be  of  the  greatest  importance  in  promoting  good  order  and  clean- 
liness, as  well  as  beauty  and  elegance.  A  strawberry  party,  or  a  fair  could  be 
held  to  procure  the  needful  funds  to  obtain  and  plant  trees,  and  to  arrange  side- 
walks ;  and  if  its  members  began  by  only  making  their  own  homes  and  grounds 
neat  and  attractive,  the  good  work  would  have  been  commenced,  and  others 
would  soon  follow  their  example  ;  and  when  the  Autumn  winds  laid  the  green 
leaves  low,  all  the  beauty  of  the  place  would  not  be  destroyed.  In  St.  Johns- 
bury,  Yt.,  one  can  see  a  model  village,  where  the  munificence  of  the  manufac- 
turers of  Fairbanks'  scales  have  given  an  impetus  to  both  art  and  labor,  and 
each  householder  strives  with  the  other  to  maintain  good  order. 

How  to  Train  a  Servant. 

In  all  attempts  to  train  persons  in  a  very  low  stage  of  culture,  and  especially 
in  attempts  to  train  them  to  perform  processes  of  which  they  do  not  understand 
the  theory,  the  only  chance  of  success  lies  in  making  them  repeat,  incessantly, 
certain  acts  in  an  invariable  order. 

By  this  incessant  repetition  you  will  create  a  habit,  and  by  the  invariableness 
of  the  order  you  educate,  that  feebleness  of  the  memory  for  unfamiliar  facts, 
which  almost  always  accompanies  deficiency  of  mental  training. 

Therefore  if  anybody  desires  to  train  an  ignorant  girl  to  wait  at  table,  she 
must  be  made  to  do  the  same  thing  every  day  in  the  same  sequence,  and  with 
no  omission  or  departure  from  the  programme.  This  is,  however,  rarely  put 
into  practice — but  the  common  way  is  to  exact  from  the  girl  the  least  possible 
service  when  the  family  are  by  themselves,  but  when  guests  are  present  a 
number  of  new  duties  are  put  upon  her,  for  which  she  sees  no  reason,  and  can- 
not possibly  keep  them  in  mind. 


HOUSEHOLD   HINTS  AND   RECIPES.  149 

The  result  is  tliat  tlie  attention  of  tlie  lady  of  the  house  is  entirely  absorbed 
in  the  servant,  to  the  neglect  of  her  friends,  and  she  is  obliged  to  give  orders 
continually,  while  the  well-meaning  girl  becomes  so  confused,  that  she  cannot 
even  change  a  plate  properly,  and  the  dinner  is  not  a  success ;  and  the  mistress 
learns  that  constant  drilling  is  needful  to  make  a  raw  girl  a  good  waitress. 

A  girl  cannot  be  expected  to  become  an  accomplished  cook,  waitress,  or 
chamber-maid,  until  she  has  passed  several  years  in  the  various  occupations, 
each  position  requires.  And  when  she  first  sees  the  dinner  table  of  a  family, 
who  live  in  moderate  style,  it  must  seem  to  her  somewhat  like  the  preparation 
of  a  mysterions  heathen  rite. 

The  rules  and  regulations  which  control  the  laying  of  the  table,  the  course  of 
the  dishes,  the  changing  of  the  plates,  etc.,  are  provisions  for  the  gratification 
of  tastes,  for  which  only  years  of  training  will  fit  her.  She  cannot  understand 
why  the  eating  of  a  meal  should  be  surrounded  by  so  much  elaboration  and 
ceremony ;  and  any  explanation  of  the  theory  would  not  be  satisfactory,  because 
it  is  chiefly  founded  upon  ideas  which  need  a  high  system  of  cultivation. 

To  endeavor  to  make  a  waitress  feel  about  the  service  at  table  as  her  mistress 
does,  that  is,  to  give  her  the  mistress'  sense  of  propriety,  decency  and  fitness 
would  be  an  utter  impossibility. —  The  Nation. 

The  Best  Way  to  Labor  Easily. 

A  scholar  may  be  able  to  write  in  a  dogged  manner,  with  a  determined  reso- 
hition  to  grind  out  a  given  task  at  all  hazards.  So  a  person  may  put  whip  and 
spur  to  his  overworked  and  dragged  out  energies,  and  engage  in  manual  em- 
ployment as  the  sullen  culprit  goes  scourged  to  his  irksome  labor. 

If  one  must  sit  with  pen  already  dipped,  and  woo  his  ideas  and  tumble  his 
dictionary  for  suggestive  words,  he  will  be  very  apt  to  write  and  erase,  to  change 
and  alter  repeatedly,  before  the  sluggish  thoughts  can  be  satisfactorily  ex- 
pressed. 

Tiius  it  is  also  with  manual  labor;  if  one  cannot  engage  in  it  as  a  buoyant 
urchin  bounds  away  to  the  play-ground,  everything  will  drag  heavily.  If  the 
thoughts  do  not  come  rushing  across  the  orbit  of  the  mind  in  rapid  succession, 
as  the  fleet  shadows  of  Summer  clouds  chase  each  other  over  the  landscape, 
throw  aside  the  pen,  touch  not  the  newspaper  or  book,  but  take  a  brisk  walk 
into  town  or  country.  Throw  aside  all  care  and  thoughtfulness,  let  down  the 
tension  which  has  held  the  entire  system  at  concert  pitch  for  so  many  days,  and 
try  to  feel  that  you  have  nothing  to  do  for  at  least  three  weeks. 

Then,  after  an  invigorative  pause,  dip  the  pen  again,  and  the  well-arranged 
thoughts  will  flow  as  smoothly  as  the  ink. 

After  writing  an  hour,  drop  the  pen,  no  matter  if  in  the  midst  of  a  sentence, 
and  recreate  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  by  j-our  watch  ;  after  which  resume  it. 
Always  exercising  rigid  attention  over  self,  to  stop  entirely  before  the  monitor 
within  says  that  every  faculty  has  been  overworked. 


I50  HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES. 

A  manual  laborer  who  will  apply  himself  faithfully  for  eight  or  ten  successive 
hours,  with  an  hour's  intermission,  will  accomplish  more  and  feel  better  than  if 
he  worked  along  for  ten  hours  without  any  rest. 

The  housekeeper  who  would  perform  a  great  day's  work,  without  overdoing, 
must  stop  and  rest  a  little  every  hour  or  two.  A  person  can  accomplish  but 
little,  who  is  ever  hurrying  and  always  behindhand  ;  but  if  he  will  sit  down  or 
lie  idle  for  an  hour,  labor  would  not  seem  so  ii'ksome,  and  when  the  clock  indi- 
cated that  the  hour  of  rest  was  passed,  she  would  be  surprised  to  see  what  a 
pleasure  there  is  in  virtuous  industry,  and  how  much  she  can  accomplish  when 
she  is  not  so  tired.  The  great  difficulty  with  most  housekeepers  is  over  doing, 
and  she  who  goads  her  already  overtaxed  energies,  hour  after  hour,  in  all  the 
endless  round  of  house- work,  will  often  find,  too  late,  perhaps,  that  she  has  been 
burning  the  candle  at  both  ends. 

It  is  not  the  great  amount  of  work  in  the  aggregate  which  prostrates  the  phys- 
ical and  mental  powers,  but  it  is  the  habit  of  tiring  one's  self  in  the  perform- 
ance of  every  task,  and  never  feeling  wholly  rested,  when  one  rises  in  the 
morning. 

False  Motions. 

It  is  not  always  those  who  seem  the  most  occupied,  who  can  accomplish  the 
most  work  ;  and  this  fact  is  forcibly  illustrated  by  the  following  incident : 

The  foreman  of  one  of  our  large  newspaper  establishments  was  showing  a 
stranger  over  the  office.  In  the  composing-room  he  saw  with  wonder  and  admi- 
ration the  thousands  of  little  bits  of  metal  passing  with  a  steady  click,  click, 
into  the  sticks  which  the  workmen  held.  As  he  watched  them  the  foreman 
asked  him  which  of  the  comjiositors  he  tliought  could  do  the  most  work. 

He  replied,  "  Why,  that  tall  fellow  in  the  corner  sets  twice  as  maijy  t3'pes  as 
the  others      His  hands  fly  with  great  rapidity." 

"  No,"  answered  the  foreman,  "  our  fastest  type-setter  is  that  quiet-looking 
man  opposite." 

"  He  seems  very  slow  and  moderate  in  his  movements,"  said  the  stranger. 
"  His  motions  are  not  nearly  so  quick  as  the  one  I  pointed  out." 

"  It  is  true,"  said  the  foreman,  "  but  the  secret  is  that  he  never  fails  to  pick 
the  right  letter,  while  the  other  makes  what  we  call  'false  motions.'  His  hand 
goes  twice  to  the  case  for  a  type,  and  his  stick  fills  slowly  compared  with  that 
of  the  deliberate  woikman,  who  does  not  hurry,  and  uses  only  just  enough 
action  to  accomplish  his  purpose." 

"  False  motions  "  are  the  cause  of  a  great  amount  of  wasted  energy ;  and  there 
are  many  housewives  who  suffer  greatly  from  that  fault.  They  dash  about  the 
house  and  seem  to  be  working  at  a  great  rate,  but  they  rarely  accomplish 
much,  while  the  women  who  do  their  work  deliberately  and  slowly,  taking 
time  to  consider  what  should  be  done  next,  to  the  best  advantage,  will  accom- 
plish more  in  half  a  day  than  they  can  do  in  a  day,  and  not  become  so  much 
exhausted. 


HOUSEHOLD  HINTS  AND  RECIPES.  151 

Think  more  about  your  work,  and  take  it  eas}-.  It's  always  best  to  take 
tilings  in  a  quiet  sort  of  way. 

Kfi-p  cool ;  don't  fume  and  fret,  but  consider  how  a  thing  should  be  done, 
and  do  it,  thus  avoiding  "false  motions,"  and  letting  every  step  tell,  and  every 
move  an  advance  towards  the  completion  of  the  work. 

Teach  your  children  to  do  work  in  this  manner,  and  it  will  often  prove  the 
best  legacy  you  can  give  them. 

Hoiv  to  Enjoy  Life. 

It  is  lamentable  to  what  a  degree  many  persons  believe  that  enjoyment  and 
contentment  depend  upon  not  being  obliged  to  engage  in  constant  occupations. 

Nowadays,  girls  are  considered  well  settled  in  life,  if  their  husbands  possess 
sufficient  means  to  provide  them  with  plenty  of  servants,  and  place  them  in  the 
enviable  position  of  nothing  to  do. 

While  young  men  are  thought  to  be  well  provided  for  if  their  parents  possess 
large  fortunes,  and  can  furnish  them  with  sufficient  capital  to  either  play  at 
business,  by  sitting  in  the  counting-room  or  office,  and  letting  others  do  tha 
work,  or  to  give  them  funds  to  make  the  grand  tour,  and  go  up  to  the  head- 
waters of  the  Nile. 

Now  this  is  all  nonsense,  for  honest,  hearty  labor  is  the  only  true  source  of 
happiness,  as  well  as  the  only  guarantee  of  health  and  life. 

"By  the  sweat  of  thy  brow  thou  shalt  eat  thy  bread,"  was  the  divine  com- 
mand to  Adam.  And  whoever  is  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  nothing  to  do  in 
the  grand  arena  of  life,  is  sui-e  to  suffer  from  disobedience  to  it. 

Work  is  essential  for  every  one,  and  without  its  incentives,  without  we  pay 
heed  to  its  claims  upon  us,  we  are  miserable  misanthropes,  and  the  gloom  of  mis- 
anthropy is  not  only  an  hindrance  to  all  enjoyment,  but  it  tends  to  destroy  life 
itself. 

For  luxury  and  idleness  lead  to  premature  decay  much  more  surely  than  many 
occupations  that  are  considered  fatal  to  longevity. 

As  a  general  thing,  instead  of  labor  shortening  our  lives,  it  actually  increases 
them,  and  it  is  for  the  want  of  occupation  that  so  many  of  our  rich  men's  sons 
become  dissipated  and  insane,  and  their  daughters  querulous  invalids. 

The  drones  of  life  are  subject  to  all  sorts  of  diseases,  which  prove  utter  kill- 
joys, and  it  is  only  the  busy  bees  who  enjoy  the  sunshine  and  the  flowers  of 
life. 


INDEX  TO   PART  I. 


PAGE. 

Alabaster,  restore  ornaments  in,    .     .  12 

A  good  plan  for  a  kitchen,    ....  lO.'j 

Ammonia,  its  uses, 78 

Antidote  to  poison, 56 

Ants,  the  plague  of, 26 

Apartments,  arrangement  of,     ...  61 

A  revolving  fire  grate, 92 

Ashes,  a  plea  for, 61 

Aquariums,  water-proof  cement,    .     .  39 

A  use  for  old  corks, 48 

A  wash  to  fix  pencil  drawings,  ...  47 

Blacking,  sponge  boot, 49 

Blankets,  how  to  wash,     .....  34 
Brass  andirons   and  fenders,  how  to 

clean, 10 

Beds,  to  clean  bedding  and,  .     •     .     .  20 

Beds,  how  to  air, 24 

Bedsteads,  to  re-paint  iron,    .     .     .     .125 

Bread,  how  to  prepare  stale,      ...  42 

Borax,  the  use  of, 29 

Books,  how  to  lend  and  borrow,     .     .  53 

Borrowing, .  81 

Bottles,  remove  stopper  from  smell- 
ing,    10 

Bottles,  remove  stopper  from  glass,    .  10 

Burns  and  scalds, .55 

Bluing,  recipe  for, 30 

Brushes  to  cleanse  hair  and  clothes,   .  51 

Calcimine, 88 

Candlesticks,  to  clean  snuffers  and,     .  1 2 

Carpets,  how  to  lay, 113 

Carpets,  how  to  make  rag,    .     .     .     .124 

Care  of  family  stores, 121 

Care  of  woolen  curtains, 50 

Care  of  pictures, 50 


PAGE. 

Carpet,  to  make  a  cheap, 23 

Chamber,  liow  to  ventilate,    ....  44 

Crape,  to  restore, 45 

Cellar,  how  to  clean, 19 

Cellar,  to  ventilate, 47 

Cement,  water-proof, 39 

Cement,  lime  and  egg, 40 

Cement,  rice«flour, 41 

Cement,  fire  and  water-proof,    ...  41 

Cement  for  the  mouth  of  bottles,  .     .  75 

Cisterns,  how  to  build, 55 

China,  how  to  mend, 39 

Coat,  to  renovate  a  black 60 

Coral,  to  make  black,  white,  or  red 

frames, 47 

Corks,  a  use  for  old, 48 

Clothing  to  disinfect, 49 

Clock,  how  to  fix  the, 141 

Clothes,  how  to  brush, 123 

Crockery,  white  lead  for  mending,      .  40 

Curtains,  to  do  up  lace, 36 

Curtains,  care  of  woolen, 50 

Dampness,  how  to  prevent,   .     .     .     .122 

Drawings,  a  wash  to  fix, 47 

Dress  making,  hints  on, 27 

Doors,  to  prevent  creaking,  ....  67 

Don't  sliut  out  the  sunshine,      ...  97 

Dusters,  home  made  feather,     ...  90 

Earthen  ware,  management  of, .     .     .  52 

Engravings  to  transfer  on  wood,    .     .  71 

Expenses,  how  to  manage  household,  14 

Economy,  home, 14 

Facts  for  housekeepers, 141 

False  motions, 150 

Flannels,  liow  to  wash, 35 


54 


:ndex. 


PAGE. 

Flannels, 28 

Fermentation,  facts  about,     ....  89 

Freckles,  to  remove, 42 

Filtered  water, 5G 

Finger  nails,  to  cure  cliildren   from 

biting  their, 14.5 

Fire-guaril  made  of  wire, 4G 

Fire,  to  extinguish  fires  in  chimneys,  59 
Fire,  how  to   extinguish   clothes   on 

fire, 79 

Flies,  to  destroy, 42 

Friendship, 140 

Floors,  to  wash, 21 

Furniture,  polish  for, 49 

Furs,  how  to  take  care  of,     ....  25 

Glasses,  how  to  clean, 86 

Grease,  to  remove  spots  from  books,  .  44 

Grease,  to  extract  from  silk,  '  ...  45 
Gold,   how   to    restore  French    gold 

ornaments, 54 

Gloves,  how  to  buy, 44 

Gloves,  to  clean  Doeskin,       ....  51 

Gloves,  to  clean  white  kid,     ....  51 

Gloves,  to  restore  black  kid, ....  52 

Glue,  Burgardien's, 40 

Glue  for  constant  use, 41 

Hair,  how  to  crimp, G7 

Hair  wash, 4."} 

Harness,  to  restore  faded,      ....  13 

Harness,  Castor  oil  for 86 

Hearth  to  black  a  brick, 43 

Hints  for  the  Laundry, 29 

Hints  on  varnishing, 127 

Hints  upon  moving, 112 

Home  interests, 92 

Honor  your  occupation, 144 

House,  how  to  purify, 42 

Houses,  best  time  for  painting, .  .  .141 
House  cleaning,  liow  to  arrange  tlie 

spring 15 

Housekeeping 110 

House  linen,  hints  upon, 106 

How  much  to  eat, 68 

How  to  build  a  cistern, 55 

How  to  crimp  the  hair, 67 


PAGE. 

How  to  clean  knives, 69 

How  to  clean  wall  paper  and  walls,    ,  17 

How  to  clean  a  room  thoroughly,  .     .  16 

How  to  clean  carpets, 16 

How  to  cultivate  the  habit  of  reading,  1 1 6 

How  to  destroy  flies, 42 

How  to  drive, 82 

How  to  dry  herbs, 69 

How  to  hang  pictures, 70 

How  to  enjoy  life, 151 

How  to  iron, 34 

How  to  iron  skirts,  vests  and  shirts,   .  3 1 

How  to  mend  old  boots  and  shoes,      .  58 

How  to  mend  old  pails, 69 

How  to  make  a  comfortable  home,     .  96 

How  to  make  new  rope  pliable, ...  68 

How  to  make  home  happy,    ....  65 

How  to  make  a  storm  glass, ....  59 

How^  to  make  a  model  village,   .     .     .  148 

How  to  make  a  wire  fire-guard,      .     .  46 

How  to  mend  sheets  and  shirts,      .     .  45 

How  to  pack  household  articles,     .     .  76 

How  to  prevent  cold  feet,      ....  71 

How  to  prepare  tracing  paper,  ...  48 

How  to  pour  out  tea, 138 

How  to  restore  faded  alpaca,     .     .     .  55 

How  to  remove  mildew, 50 

How  to  sleep, 53 

How  to  store  fruit  for  winter  use,  .     .  57 

How  to  teach  little  children,      .     .     .  118 

How  to  utilize  old  cans, 131 

How  to  use  French  polish,    ....  129 

How  to  use  kerosene  lamps,  ....  62 

How  to  use  old  carpets, 23 

How   to   ventilate   rooms    and  largo 

halls, 72 

How  to  ventilate  cellar, 47 

How  to  wasli  fine  under  clothing,  .     .  136 

How  to  wash  old  flannels SS 

Ice  house,  an  extemporaneous,  .     .     .  132 

Inks,  sympathetic, 48 

Ink  for  marking  linen, 49 

Ink  stains,  to  remove, 45 

Ironing,      .     • 34 

Iron  rust,  to  extract  from  linen,     .     .  61 


INDEX. 

PAilE. 

Ivy  poison,  roiiiedy  for 57 

Javelle  water  for  stains, 79 

Knives,  to  clean, 6'J 

Knives,  to  take  care  of  handles  of,     .  11 

Lace,  to  bleach  embroidery  and,     .     .  33 

Lace,  to  wash  tliread, ii 

Laces  and  muslins,  to  wash,  ....  30 

Linen,  ink  for  marking, 49 

Linen,  care  of  house  linen,    ....  126 

Linen,  to  remove  fruit  stains  from,     .  36 

Linen,  to  renew  scorched 76 

Linen,  to  restore  mildewed,  ....  36 

Linen,  to  stiffen 33 

Linen,  to  take  out  iron  rust,      ...  61 

Lamps,  to  use  kerosene, 62 

Mahogany,  to  extracts  ink  spots,    .     .  45 

Management  of  earthen  ware,   ...  52 

Mats  made  of  sheepskin, 69 

Matting,  how  to  put  down,    ....  223 
Matting,  how  to  wash  straw,      .     .     .139 

Mildew,  how  to  remove, 150 

Mosquito  and  fly  nets, 24 

Muslin  dresses,  how  to  wash,     ...  32 

Moths,  how  to  repel, 24 

Needlework,  plain, 28 

Open  windows  at  night, 133 

Overcoats,  hints  on  repairing,    .     .     .  134 

Oil  cloths,  to  clean, 21 

Oil  cloth,  to  protect  edges  of,     .     .     .  22 

Oil  cloth,  to  make  a  kitchen,      ...  22 

Our  boys, 93 

Our  children, 92 

Our  homes, 95 

Paint  impervious  to  weather,     ,     .     ,  13 

Paint,  to  remove  from  cloth,      ...  43 

Paint,  to  make  economical  white,  .     .  13 

Patching  and  darning, 73 

Plate,  to  clean  tarnished, 12 

Plate,  to  clean, 66 

Plated  goods,  to  restore, 44 

Plaster  figures,  to  clean, 60 

Plaster,   to   give   the   appearance   of 

marble  to  figures  in, 12 

Pictures,  appropriateness  of,      ...  103 

Pictures,  care  of, 50 


'55 

r.\f;E. 

Pictures  and  chromos,  how  to  <dean,  .  21 

Pini]iles,  remove  from  the  face,      .     .  43 

Prints,  to  wash  black  and  white,    .     .  34 

Poison,  antidotes  for, 56 

Poison  by  ivy,  remedy  for,    ....  53 

Polisli,  French, 1 28 

Polish,  to  apply  French, 66 

Polish  for  furniture 49 

Polishing  paste  for  tins,  etc.,     ...  46 

Pomade,  how  to  make, 79 

Pot  Pourri  No.  1, 9 

Pot  I'ourri  No.  2, 10 

Refrigerator,  a  home  made,  .     .     .     .  2(j 

Roses,  how  to  make  the  otto  of,     .     .  81 

Rug,  to  make  a  rag, (J2 

Rugs  out  of  old  carpets 8y 

Rust,  to  preserve  iron  and  steel,     .     .  11 

Sachet  powders, 45 

£calp,  to  cleanse, 43 

Scrap  book,  the  value  of, 132 

Stains  from  silver, 42 

Starch  made  from  coffee,       ....  33 

Stains,  to  remove  fruit, 60 

Stains,   how   to  remove   stains   from 

clothing, 90 

Servants,  how  to  train 148 

Sleeping  rooms,  comfort  in,  ....  98 

Sheets  and  shirts,  how  to  mend,     .     .  45 

Silk,  to  clean C7 

Silk,  to  extract  grease  from,      ...  45 
Silver,  East  Indian  method  of  clean- 
ing,        87 

Silver,  to  remove  egg  stains,      ...  42 

Silver,  to  prepare  cloths  for  polishing,  12 

Simplicity  in  living, 94 

Shirt  making,  directions  for,      .     .     .  109 

Sliirts,  vests  and  skirts  to  iron,       .     .  31 

Skin,  how  to  whiten, 121 

Soap  for  scrubbing, 38 

Soap,  to  make  pure  white,     ....  38 

Soap,  to  make  hard, 37 

Soap  without  ashes, 87 

Soap  dish,  a  convenient, 32 

Soap  making,  hints  upon,      ....  36 

Shopping,  hints  on, 115 


56 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Stockings,  to  wash  .^ilk, 43 

Stockings,  to  wash  bhick  woolen,  .     .  33 

Storm  glass,  how  to  make,    ....  59 

Symputlietic  inks  for  writing,    ...  48 

The  art  of  color, 105 

The  cliarm  of  reserve 146 

The  fine  art  of  patching 73 

The  rag  bag, 137 

The  use  of  paper  in  the  house,  .     .     .  131 

Time,  how  to  economize, 120 

Tins,  to  clean  common, 11 

Tins,  Britannia  ware,  polish  for,     .     .  46 

To  black-lead  and  polish  grates,     .     .  18 

To  clean  colored  fabrics, 31 

To  clean  colored  and  varnished  paints,  19 

To  clean  Doeskin  gloves,      ....  51 

To  clean  door  knobs,  bell  pulls,     .     .  21 

To  clean  glasses,  bottles,  decanters,    .  67 

To  clean  marble, 74 

To  clean  wash  leather  gloves,    ...  52 

To  cleati  white  kid  gloves,    ....  51 

To  clean  wainscots  and  painted  wood,  19 

To  clean  white  paint, 18 

To  clean  waiters, 77 

To  close  cracks  in  stoves, 85 

To  cut  pencils  for  drawing 64 

To  disinfect  clothing  by  sulphur,  .     .  49 

To  keep  leather  harness  plialde,     .     .  75 
To  make  black,  red,  or  white  coral 

frames 47 

To  make  a  rag  rug 62 

To  prevent  hair  falling  off 67 

To  perfume  linen 74 

To  preserve  steel  ornaments,     ...  64 

To  remove  freckles 42 


PAGE. 

To  remove  grease  from  carpets,  table- 
cloths, dresses 46 

To  remove  ink  stains 45 

To  remove  iron  rust, 137 

To  remove  stains  from  the  fingers,    .  74 

To  restore  black  kid  gloves,       ...  62 

To  restore  crape, 45 

To  restore  woolen  furniture,      ...  60 

To  stain  woods, 50 

To  wash  cretonne  and  chintz,     .     .     .  126 

To  wash  laces  and  muslins,  ....  30 

To  wash  muslin  dresses, 32 

To  wash  ribbons,  silk  handkerchiefs, .  75 

To  wash  ^  ials, 76 

Towels,  to  repair, 44 

To  ventilate  closets, 129 

Varnish,  old  straw  hats  and  baskets, .  13 

Velvet,  to  iron, 76 

Venetian  blinds,  to  clean,      ....  22 

Vials,  how  to  wash, 76 

Washing  fluid 29 

Wash,  black  and  blue  linens,     ...  35 

Water-proof  boots  and  shoes,     ...  57 

Water.proof  boots, 86 

Windows,  to  clean  mirrors  and,     .     .  21 

Window  draperies, 82 

Wines,  how  to  know  if  colored,     .     .  122 

Whitewash,  a  recipe  for, 80 

Whitewashing,  directions  foi*,    ...  87 

White  lead  for  mending  crockery,      .  40 

Woods,  to  stain, 50 

Woolen,   Scotch  method  of  washing 

shawls, 136 

Why  girls  should   be  taught  to  keep 

house, 114 


£n(Tks^  "^ixm^  WiM^^ 

OK 

HOME  RECREATIONS 


j^tt  I  IffiD^chaia  fsjit. 


Just  publisbed,  a  Charming  New  Book 
with  above  title.    A  Companion  Volume  to 

Honsebold  Elegancies  and 
Window  Gardening, 

Issued  in  same  size  and  stj-le,  profusely 
illustrated  with  engravings  of  superior 
execution,  and  devoteil  to  many  loincs  of 
Household  taste,  Fancy  Work  for  the 
ladies,  anil  containing  hundreds  of  sugges- 
tions of  Home  decorations. 

VOLUME  THR££ 


illi{ittt$'  '^•{oit$cI(ohI  ^nii;s» 


CONTENTS. 

Among  the  topics  which  "Ladies' 
Fancy  AVoik  "  treats  of,  are — 

Feather  Work,  Paper  Flowers, 
Fire  Screens,  Shrines,  Rustic  Pic- 
tures, a  chaiming  series  of  designs 
for  Easter  Cro^^MS,  istraw  Orna- 
ments, Shell  Flowers  and  Shell 
Work,  Bead  Mosaic  and  Fish 
Scale  Embroidei  y.  Hair  Work, 
Card-board  Ornaments, 
^^  Fancy    Kubber    Work, 

Cottage  Foot  Rests, 
Window  Garden  Deco- 
rations. Crochet  Work, 
designs  in  Embroidery, 
and  an  immense  num- 
ber of  designs  of  other 
Fancy  Work  to  delight 
all  lovers  of  Household 
Art  and  recreation. 

Price   pent  post-paid 
by  mail,  $1.50. 


Address,  HENRY  T.  WILLIAMS.  Publisher, 


F.  O.  Box  6,205. 


46  Beekinan  Street,  New  York. 


The  most  beautiful  Ladies'  Book  ever  published.    Get  it  for  your  Work  Basket 
or  Parlor.    A  Beautiful  Gift  to  Friends. 

B  Y  HENR  Y  T.    WILLIAMS   AND   MRS.    C.    S.    JONES. 


VOL.  2-\VILLIA]VIS'  HOUSEHOLD  SERIES. 


A  splendid  new  book  on 
Household  Art,  devoted 
to  a  nuiltitude  of  topics, 
interesting  to  ladies  ev- 
erywhere. 


CONTENTS. 

Chap.  1 — Transparencies  on 
GlahS  for  Windows,  Lamps, 
Halls,  etc.— Diaphanie,  Vit- 
remanie.     18  Eugravinua. 

Chap.  1' — Fancy  Work  with 
Leaves,  FlowerS  and  Gratses 
— Phantom  Leaves,  Autumn 
Leaves  and  Mosses.  23  En- 
gravings. 

Chap.  .S— Spray  Work  or 
Spatter  Work.  23  Engrav- 
ings. 

Chap.  4— Brackets,  Phelves, 
Mantels,  etc.    27  Engravings. 
Chap,  fi — Picture  Frames  — 
17  Engravings, 

Chap.  C — Fancy  Leather 
Work.     2;)  Engravings. 

Chap,  7— Wall-Pockets.  18 
Engravings. 

Chap.  8— Work  Boxes  and 
Baskets.     '7  Eugravsngs. 

Chap.  9 — Wax  Flowers, 
Fruit,  etc.     21  Engravings. 

Chap.  10— Indian  I'aintins 
in  imitation  of  Ebony  and 
Ivory.     14  Engravings. 

Chap.  1 1— Cone,  t^prnce  and 
6eed  Work.      ;-5  Engravings. 

Chap.    12 Miscellaneous 

Fancy    Work.      46    Eugrav 
ings. 


P.  O.  Box  6205. 


ADDRESS  HENRY  T.  WILLLAMS,  PUBLISHER, 

46  Beekman  Street,  New  York. 


Window  (R-siirdleMiMi 

By  HENRY  T.  WILLIAMS, 

Eciitoa::-  I_istciiGs'  I^lor^xl  Ocvtsixxot  HST.  IT. 


An  Elegant  Book,  with  250  Fine  Engravings  and  300  Pages, 

CoataiaiDg  a  BescEigUTS  tist  of  all  Flaats  Saitable  far  Wiadow  Gulturg, 

A  ready  and  invaluable  aid  to  all  who 
wish  to  adorn  their  hoiises  in  the  easiest 
and  mopt  successful  manner  with  plants 
or  vineB,  or  flowers.  Instructions  are 
given  as  to  the  best  selection  of  plants  for 
Baskets  or  Ferneries  and  Wardian  Cases. 
Several  chapters  are  devoted  to  Hanging 
Baskets,  Climbing  Vines,  Sniilax.  and  the 
Ivy,  for  decorative  puriioses.  Bulbs  for 
House  Cidture  are  fully  described ;  also 
ornamental  Plants  for  Dinner  Table 
Decoration.  Other  topics  are  well  con- 
sidered, such  as  Balcony  Gardens,  House 
Top  (iardening,  Watering  Plants,  Home 
Conservatories,  Fountains,  Vases,  Flower 
St.ands,  Soil,  Air,  Temperature,  Propaga- 
tion, Floral  Boxes,  the  Aipiarium,  Rustic 
Conveniences  for  Household  Ornament, 
and  <lirections  in  detail  for  the  general 
management  of  in-door  plants  for  the  en- 
tire year  throughout  the  Winter,  Spring, 
Summer  and  Fall.  Tho  volume  is  pro- 
fusely illustrated  with  choice  engravings, 
and  pains  have  been  taken  to  make  it  one 
of  the  most  attractive  books  ever  issued, 
from  the  American  Press.  For  sale  or 
supplied  by  Bookstores  everywhere,  or 
sent  post-paid  by  mail  on  receipt  of  price. 

Price,  $1.50. 

Every  Woman  Her  Own  Tlower 
Qardener. 

By  Daisy  Eyebright,  (Mrs,  S.  0.  Johnson.) 

A  delightful  little  volume,  written  by  a 
lady  fond  of  flowers,  as  a  special  help  and 
assistance  toothers  interested  in  outdoor 


iTiaaioms,  n  eruenas,  Vyannas,  j>iii»»m?i.  j  "■ '>"<>>  <-.io,"'-' ■■^••■•.'  ■■-■ ■■  ,     „i„  :„  i„,.„  ,„;ii. 

ers  and  shrubs.     The  book  contains  148  pages,  is  charmingly  written  by  one  deeplv   "  '"^ejviOi 
the  subject,  who  appreciates  the  tastes  of  ladies  and  aims  to  do  good  with  agreeable,  kindly  ad- 
vice on  liomo  gardening.     For  sale  or  supplied  by  Bookstores  everywhere. 
Price,  in  handsome  Pamphlet  Covers,  50  cents;  bound  in  Cloth,  §1;  postpaid  by  mail. 

Address  SENBY  T,  WILLIAMS,  Publisher, 

46  Beekman  Street,  N.  T. 


Of(:K^>i^?^i'^i<  ©sj^mx^ 


-FOR- 


-AND 


HOME    DECORA.TIONS. 


Fret-Sawing  has  become  an  art  of  such  wonderful  popularity  that  the  interest  in  it  has  been 
shared  by  both  amateurs  and  professionals  to  an  astonishing  extent.  Hundreds  are  earning  large 
suras  of  pocket-money  by  cutting  tliese  beautiful  household  ornaments,  and  selling  among 
friends  or  acquaintances,  or  at  the  art  stores. 


Ladies  iind  the  Young  Folks  find  in  it  a  fascinating 
recreation,  and  are  making  dozens  of  fancy  articles 
at  small  cost,  to  decoiato  their  homes  in  a  charming 
manner,  or  to  give  as  Holiday  Presents  to  friends.  The 
following  books  contain  mechanical  designs  of  full 
size  for  immediate  use,  and  are  invaluable  alike  to  tlie 
amateurs,  ladies,  young  folks,  mechanics,  architects, 
and  all  of  professional  skill. 

Part  1  contains  full  size  designs  for  Picture 
Frames,  Small  Brackets,  Book  K.Tcks,  Fancy  Letters 
and  Figures,  Ornaments,  Wall  Pockets,  etc.  (Has 
patterns  worth  at  usual  prices  over  $8.)  Price,  75  cts., 
post-paid  by  mail. 

Part  2  is  devoted  exclusively  to  designs  of  Brackets 
of  medium  to  large  size,  all  entirely  new,  and  of  the 
most  tasteful  detail  and  execution.  (Contains  over  50 
plans,  worth  at  least  $15.)  Price  $1.00,  by  mail,  post- 
paid. 

Part  3  is  devoted  to  Fancy   Work.  Ladies'  Work 

Baskets,  Easels,   Crosses.    Match    Boxes,  Pen   Backs, 

Paper  Cutters,  Calendar  Frames,  Thermometer  Stands, 

Watch  Pockets,  Fruit    Baskets,   Table  Platters,   etc. 

Nearly  100  designs,    many   of  them  really  exquisite. 

Price,  $1. 

^^,_^_^  The  above  books  contain  over  300  patterns,  all  beau- 

MtWKIF^  tifuUy  printed   in   blue    color.    These    books   are  the 

\^mXM  only  ones  yet  issued  in    the   U.  S.    The  patterns  are 

^^^Bfr  mostly  original,  designed    expressly  for  these  books, 

^^m  and  in  execution,  choice    selection,  taste,   dieapness, 

^^  they  may  be  safely  esteemed   the   best  collection  yet 

produced!    Tlje  whole  series  of  three  costing  but  $2.75,  contains  upwards  of  300  patterns,  worth 

at  usual  values  over  $30.    All  sent  post-paid  by  mail,  on  receipt  of  price. 

Bracket  and  Fret  Sa^v. 

With  this  Bracket  Saw,  the  designs  and  directions,  very 
3*^7  desirable  .irticles  can  be  made  for  Fairs,  etc.,  which  will 
sell  quickly  and  at  a  good  profit.  With  it  you  can  ma1;e 
beautiful  articles  for  prcKcntnlion  (/i/ts.  With  it  you  can 
/id/)  tirantifii  your  homes.  With  it  you  can  vinkc  money. 
To  parents' desiring  a  UHKITL  GIFT  for  their  children,  we 
woulil  call  nttention  to  this  Bracket  and  Fret  Saw.  for  it 
not  (inly  alTonls  r/rea<  pleasure,  but  it  helps  to  cullivate  a 
vii  cliiinicnl  /ns/e. 

Price  with  jn  bracket  and  ornamental  designs,  6  bracket 
saw  blades,  also  full  directions  for  use.     Sent  by  mail  for 


&i-  iV?. 


J3i^ 


Address  HENRY  T.  WILLIAMS,  Publisher, 

46  Beekinan  Street,  New  York. 
Part  4.  Price  50  Cents.— A  new  book  of  Fret  Saw  designs,  containing  many  tasteful  pat- 
terns, entirely  new  and  of  special  elegance,  is  now  In  press,  and  will  be  issued  early  in  October. 


GETTY  CENTER  LIBRARY 

3  3125  00140  2904 


